FourFourTwo - UK (February 2020)

GARETH
SOUTHGATE




involved switching to a back four. I didn’t enjoy it as much as everybody
else because I had to mark Dennis... it was bloody hard work.”
England beat Spain on penalties in the last eight, Southgate’s display
in the goalless draw compelling Bobby Charlton to call him “world-class”.
His summer then took a turn for the surreal. One day Gareth was singing
God Save The Queen at Wembley; the next he was introducing the band
who had released a slightly different take on the national anthem.
The England squad were staying at a hotel over in Burnham Beeches,
Buckinghamshire, but Stuart Pearce was keen to watch the Sex Pistols
in London, playing live for the first time in nearly 20 years. Pearce asked
Venables if he could go, promising he would return by 9pm. His manager
wasn’t convinced, but when Pearce added he would be attending with
Southgate (who had no interest in punk music but fancied going along
for the ride) as well as England’s head of media, Steve Double, Venables
relented. A couple of hours later, Southgate and Pearce were on stage
introducing the Sex Pistols to 30,000 tanked-up punks in Finsbury Park.
“Twelve months earlier, I wouldn’t have been asked to announce the
Croydon Male Voice Choir,” chuckled Southgate.
There was a similar sense of anarchy in the UK during the Three Lions’
semi-final with Germany, days later. Across 90 minutes and extra time,
Alan Shearer headed the hosts in front, Stefan Kuntz equalised, Darren
Anderton hit a post, Kuntz had a second goal chalked off for a foul and
Paul Gascoigne came within millimetres of scoring a winner. Venables,
having used every substitution available in the four preceding matches,
made no changes at all throughout the 120 minutes.
Then came the shootout. Ten spot-kicks, all scored. Southgate’s long
AS SOUTHGATE WEnT InTO THE BAR, TOnY
run-up. The weak sidefoot. Kopke’s save. England team-mate Paul Ince
remembers the devastation of an “inconsolable” Southgate – the kind of
ADAMS BROKE THE TEnSIOn BY JOKInGLY
suffering Ince would endure two years later after his own penalty woe
at France 98. “I think because it was at home, he took a lot of grief from
it,” the former midfielder tells FFT. “He had the right people around him:
SAYInG, “YOU KnOW YOU’VE LET US DOWn”
Tony Adams, Pearcey, because he was close to them. You never put the
blame on anyone’s plate. You could look back and say, ‘Well, we should
break into the team,” he said. “Four years ago, when I was watching the have scored there and it wouldn’t have gone to penalties’.
Clockwise from left finals on holiday in Portugal, I turned to my best friend and said, ‘It’d be “The last thing you want is for people to say, ‘Don’t worry, forget about
Bulgaria were one great to be involved in that in ’96.’” it, just forget about it’. You know you can’t forget about it – you’ve just
of only four teams Back then, England’s future 57-cap international, Euro 96 fall guy and f**king missed a penalty.”
Southgate faced successful manager was a 21-year-old defender, going into his second As if that miss wasn’t enough for Southgate to take in, Liam Gallagher
before Euro 96 got full season as a professional with Crystal Palace. It’s unlikely that he felt and Prime Minister John Major were among the first people to console
going; impressing so romantic when that time finally came and went, and the madness of him after he emerged from the sanctuary of the dressing room. Major,
in the last eight; missing a penalty in a shootout for England hit him like a freight train. a cricket fan, called him ‘Gary’. And then there was the media, to whom
a tragedy in three a broken Southgate simply said, “I feel I’ve let the whole country down.”
parts; “Just forget It’s easily forgotten how inexperienced Southgate was at international That night, England’s players returned to their hotel and attacked the
about it, Gareth – level in 1996. He went from making his senior England debut at home to bar with gusto. The session continued until 6am and eventually ended
let’s get smashed” Portugal in December 1995 to becoming an automatic pick in defence, with Gascoigne discovering that someone had defecated in his washbag.
despite the opening game of Euro 96 bringing only his fifth cap. He then Southgate, meanwhile, phoned his mum, who asked, “Why didn’t you
became one of the tournament’s most impressive breakout stars. belt it?” As he went back into the bar, Tony Adams broke the tension by
“He had so few games before Euro 96, yet he handled the whole thing jokingly calling him a “bleedin’ German... you know you’ve let us down”.
beautifully – which didn’t surprise me,” wrote Terry Venables, FFT’s guest Perhaps unsurprisingly, Southgate spent most of the evening speaking
editor for that November 1996 issue (left) when Southgate adorned the to Pearce and Venables.
front cover. In a previous life, Venables had co-authored five books and If Southgate’s experience was a painful one, he at least grew stronger
helped to create late-70s ITV detective drama Hazell. He also penned for it. He would later explain that, when considering his ordeal,
a dozen articles for this very magazine, including one about the he was drawn to a quote from former US president Theodore
defender who would follow in his footsteps as an England Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who
manager. “He’s a loquacious chap,” wrote Venables, “but points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer
he does it very well and doesn’t try to be too intelligent of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs
so it disturbs you. I spoke to Gareth about certain things to the man who is actually in the arena.”
I felt he could improve on: his speed coming out from But still the vultures circled. One magazine offered the
the back and his long-range passing. He thought about centre-back and then-girlfriend, Alison, £40,000 for
them and did improve.” an exclusive interview, which they flat-out rejected.
Good job, really: after easing in against Switzerland Reporters camped outside his home and that of his
and Scotland, Southgate was given the task of trying mother anyway, waiting for scraps to devour. The
to nullify Dennis Bergkamp. And, although Arsenal’s defender even had a song written in his ‘honour’
mercurial star did squander one good chance, he by punk group The Business, imaginatively named
was otherwise a peripheral figure in England’s 4-1 Southgate (Euro 96), with the Three Lions-inspired
demolition of the Netherlands. The press accused chorus cheerfully announcing: “Southgate’s going
Bergkamp of not turning up, which irked his marker. home, he’s going – oh no, he’s missed the bus (you
As Southgate explained: “Terry studied the Dutch c**t!)” Southgate beat a retreat to Bali with his future
for two years and came up with a game plan which wife before Germany even won the final on June 30.



FourFourTwo February 2020 101

GARETH
SOUTHGATE





























































Above Southgate hosting all of England’s Euro 2020 group games as well as the semis and
can use his pain final. The former Middlesbrough manager made the country whole again
SOUTHGATE TOLD FFT In 1996, “IT
from the sidelines with a long-awaited semi-final run at the 2018 World Cup, but he knows
to bring England the pressure is on to go at least one better when the Three Lions chase
glory (or more pain) elusive success at a major tournament.
COULD OVERSHADOW EVERYTHInG
Southgate became England manager by luck rather than design back
in 2016, having initially rejected the job before Sam Allardyce was hired.
I’VE DOnE AnD DO In THE FUTURE” Soon after Southgate’s appointment, however, he was able to rationalise
and reflect on his experiences of 1996, which he believes gave him an
Later, Southgate appeared in a self-mocking Pizza Hut advert beside advantage over other applicants.
fellow shootout scapegoats Pearce and Waddle, and did his best to put Suddenly, the lowest moment of his career became something to put
things into perspective. He had been sent countless letters of support, at the top of his CV. He reflected: “I look around and think, ‘Who of my
including plenty from handicapped children revealing Euro 96’s positive compatriots is better placed to do this job?’ I feel that I’m best-placed.
impact on their lives – and, incredibly, one letter from the babysitter of At some points in my career, I’ve underestimated what the experiences
a child killed in the Dunblane primary school massacre earlier that year. [at Euro 96] have given me and the position they’ve put me in.”
“The babysitter wrote to me and said she’d had a bad time of things, For Paul Ince, however – and perhaps for Southgate also – there is no
and she knew I had,” Southgate recalled to FFT. “But what happened to replacing what happened in that Wembley shootout. “I don’t think you
me doesn’t bear comparison with something like that. And that was the can ever parallel it with anything you do in the future,” he tells FFT. “Just
gist of many of the letters I got. Consequently, I’ve learned from them.” like in ’98 when I missed, there’s always a time when it comes back into
Southgate also received correspondence from the man who, a couple your head, and I’m sure it does with him. It would be great for England
of months earlier, had asked, “Gareth, if it goes to six, will you take one?” to win something again at last – if he’s the manager, even better – but
As Venables revealed on these pages in 1996: “I wrote all of the players he’ll see it as a completely different situation to Euro 96. I don’t think it
a handwritten letter – I hope he got it. I wanted him to know how I felt; will ever go away. It never does.”
that people will always talk about it, but no one will blame him.” Maybe not. But there’s no time like the present, and Southgate is well
In fact, Southgate didn’t agree, and in many ways he was correct. He aware that England’s display at Euro 2020 is key to his future. Speaking
concluded our 1996 interview with a sober reality check. “Everything I’ve in November, after a week in which England qualified for the tournament
done so far and maybe in the future could be overshadowed,” he said. amid a very public spat between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez, the
“Fans will instantly recall the penalty miss.” astute gaffer noted: “When you have a week like you’ve had, you sense
The 25-year-old didn’t know it at the time, but Euro 96 was as good – that people can fall out of love with you. If there isn’t a warmth for you
and bad – as it got for him at international level. He was injured during to continue, then that can start to affect the team – I’m realistic about
England’s first match at France 98 and came on as a substitute in their how quickly those tides can turn.”
ill-fated last-16 tie against Argentina. At Euro 2000, he played just nine He knows that better than anyone. But, as Terry Venables wrote in FFT
minutes as England failed to make it out of their group, and at the 2002 just over 23 years ago, “Someone once said to me, ‘That which doesn’t
World Cup he was an unused substitute. destroy you completely will make you stronger’. I think Gareth Southgate
But there is still hope of a redemption story. Now, he has the chance will find that rings true for him.” And this time, he doesn’t have to be the
to make amends from the dugout – again on home soil, with Wembley one making that long walk from the centre circle.



2 r ary 0 rur o om
m

SOUTHGATE’S ROUTE TO







EURO 2020 GLORY
We’ve crunched the numbers and calculated how the European Championship will turn out, based entirely

on bookmakers’ odds. England fans may as well start celebrating now – are the bookies ever wrong...?


GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D GROUP E GROUP F





ITALY 9 (Q) BELGIUM 9 (Q) nETHERLAnDS 9 (Q) EnGLAnD 9 (Q) SPAIn 9 (Q) FRAnCE 9 (Q)

SWITZERLAnD 6 (Q) DEnMARK 6 (Q) UKRAInE 6 (Q) CROATIA 6 (Q) POLAnD 6 (Q) GERMAnY 6 (Q)

TURKEY 1 RUSSIA 3 (Q) AUSTRIA 3 (Q) SERBIA 3 (Q) SWEDEn 3 PORTUGAL 3 (Q)
WALES 1 FInLAnD 0 GEORGIA 0 CZECH REPUBLIC 0 BOSnIA-HERZEGOVInA 0 HUnGARY 0



LAST 16


• BILBAO • • LONDON • • BUCHAREST •


vs vs vs
BELGIUM PORTUGAL ITALY UKRAInE FRAnCE RUSSIA

• COPENHAGEN • • GLASGOW • • DUBLIN •

vs POLAnD vs vs
CROATIA SPAIn AUSTRIA EnGLAnD GERMAnY

• BUDAPEST • •AMSTERDAM •


vs vs
nETHERLAnDS SERBIA SWITZERLAnD DEnMARK


QUARTER-FINALS


• MUNICH • • SAINT PETERSBURG •

vs vs

BELGIUM ITALY FRAnCE CROATIA

• ROME • • BAKU •

vs vs
SPAIn nETHERLAnDS
EnGLAnD DEnMARK

SEMI-FINALS


• LONDON • • LONDON •

Based on odds as of December 16, 2019
vs vs
BELGIUM FRAnCE EnGLAnD nETHERLAnDS

FINAL



• LONDON •

vs
BELGIUM EnGLAnD



FourFourTwo February 2020 103

FFT GRABS A WORD WITH...
PETER CROUCH

PIERLUIGI CASIRAGHI
IGOR STIMAC
CRAIG BURLEY























TEAMS
Tottenham
Dulwich Hamlet (loan)
Hassleholm (loan)
QPR
Portsmouth
Aston Villa
Norwich (loan)
Southampton
Liverpool
Stoke
Burnley
England

A few months ago, you held your own event
at the O2 in London called Crouchfest and
3,000 people turned up. Was that surreal?
PETER CROUCH
I absolutely loved it, and it was so much fun.
The best thing I do these days is probably my
podcast. We just go to a pub, the three of us
and our producer, have a laugh and everyone
“MICKEY ROURKE SAW seems to love it. It’s gone nuts. We were there
for Crouchfest with Liam Gallagher. Katherine
Jenkins, Tom Grennan and You Me At Six were
all singing, and I was thinking, ‘This festival is
ME In A nIGHTCLUB
in my name – how has this happened?’ It was
great, though. I loved it.
What did Liam Gallagher say to you?
He was great. I said, “I know this Crouchfest is
AnD WAS LIKE, ‘HEY,
a bit weird. What’s it like for you?” But he said,
“This isn’t weird, this is f**king what it’s about.
There’s too much s**t in the world, everyone’s
talking about bad stuff and we’ve come here.
YOU’RE ROBOT BOY!’
It’s full of good people all having a good time.”
The crowd went nuts!
You’re a universally loved footballer, by and
I SAID, ‘YEAH, I AM!’”
large, which is quite a rare thing. How does
that make you feel?
Yeah, it’s nice, but there must be a few people
Partying with a Hollywood actor, then sharing out there who think I’m a d**khead! Wherever
a stage with Liam Gallagher – life gets strange I go, I seem to be quite well received. It’s good.

sometimes for the retired ex-England forward Hopefully I’ll continue not to piss everyone off!
Has your podcast and the other media work
you do made it a lot easier to deal with that
Interview Chris Flanagan transition into retirement?
Yeah, that’s it – I wanted to be really busy once
I’d retired. I’m probably a little too busy now if
First things first: it’s a special Euro 96 issue He didn’t go to the gym and just ate beans on I’m being honest. I need to rein it in a bit. But
of FFT, so what are your favourite memories toast, so I started doing the same. I thought, you just never know what will happen. I didn’t
of the tournament? ‘Well I can do the no gym stuff, no problem – want to be at home watching Loose Women.
I loved it, I loved Euro 96. I grew up not too far and beans on toast, I like beans’. I went for it, As much as I enjoy the show, I didn’t want to
from Wembley, so the buzz around the place but some beans have more magic than other do that every day, so I tried to get myself out
was just electric. I loved everything about the beans, I suppose! there. I need to find what I love the most, and
tournament – that balls-up with the dentist’s Why has your dad walked his dog wearing thankfully I’m not short of offers.
chair out in Hong Kong, Gazza at his best, his an England tracksuit since 2005? You retired at the end of last season. Do you
goal and that celebration against Scotland. [Laughs] My dad has all sorts of gear. Any kind miss playing football?
Then the Holland game, Alan Shearer banging of training kit, shirts, tracksuits and wet tops – Yeah, I do miss it. I’m never going to not miss
them in, Teddy Sheringham playing well... it I just give them to my dad. He’s got an Aston it, and I wish I was still playing. But this other
was such a good tournament. The whole vibe Villa bobble hat, an England wet top and a drill stuff has kept me busy. I’m having some fun,
around England back then was great. A home top underneath. He might have some England and long may that continue.
tournament was such a big deal. It’s been too trousers and I probably gave him an old pair Could you ever become a manager?
long since we had one. of trainers from when I was sponsored, so he’s I’m not sure. I like having a bit of free time and
Do you remember where you watched all of fully loaded in all the gear whenever he goes I know being a manager is a 24/7 job. Unless
the England matches? out to walk the dog! you’re completely up for it and throw yourself
I would have been 15, so we were just on the We read that you once met Mickey Rourke – into it, then you can’t do it. I’m just having too
pp
cusp of having a beer… how did that happen? much fun at the moment.
Q in leisure
Does that mean you were drinking when you I was on holiday – it was after the 2006 World We read that you’ve got a GNVQ
ward to you
weren’t supposed to?! Cup and w we met in a nightclub. I walked past and tourism. Should we look forw
We’d try to sneak into pubs, and when we got him and he was like, “Hey, you’re robot boy!” opening a leisure centre?
turfed out we’d usually end up back at one of I said, “Yea ah, I am!” We’ve got a photograph [Laughs] You should, yeah - I thou ght I could
the lads’ houses. Good times! of me and him doing the robot, then he said buy a swimming pool and start ru nning it. I’m
ge the pool.
You brought a new book out recently called he wanted d to go out with us again. We went not a lifeguard, but I’d just manag
I Robot. Can we ask you about two or three out the next night, then we went out We’re getting a mental image of f some sort
of the stories in it, like what happened with another night, then the third night of Brittas Empire situation...
Gareth Bale’s magic beans? he actually y knocked on the door Yeah, so am I!
nitez about
[Laughs] The magic beans! I actually spoke to of our hote el room. I looked Finally, we asked Rafa Ben
sly gave him
Paul Scholes recently and asked him what his through th he peephole and that time you mischievous
Secret Santa
pre-match meal was. He said, “Baked beans on said to the lads, “Mickey Jose Mourinho’s book as a S
k
toast” – exactly the same as Gareth. I watched Rourke’s back,” and they gift, and he said he didn’t re member it.
Bale flying up and down for Spurs and ripping were like, “ “Just get rid of Are you disappointed?
Maicon to shreds against Inter with constant him – we c can’t do another Did he not remember it?! He does…
… [Laughs]
high-intensity running. I thought, ‘How does he night out w with him. He’s an
he Daily Mail
do it?’ So I started watching him really closely. absolute lu unatic!” [Laughs] Crouch is a regular columnist for th


FourFourTwo Februa ry 2020 105

PIERLUIGI CASIRAGHI Italy had reached the 1994 World Cup Final, against the Germans, but it was a big mistake
so how did you rate the Azzurri’s chances of
to underestimate the Czech Republic. Maybe
success going into Euro 96?
that happened because of poor preparation,
Even better than in 1994. We’d been together because they were one of the best teams at
“I WAS OnCE In as a squad for a long time and were capable of the tournament – they had Pavel Nedved, for
example. The coach had to make a decision,
playing really good football. Expectations were
so it’s easy to say now, but it’s a shame what
high – particularly after the first match, which
THE SAME HOSPITAL we won. Unfortunately, we got knocked out by happened. In a group of four teams like that,
it compromises your hopes of going through.
Germany and the Czech Republic – two teams
One small mistake in the last game, and you
at our level, even though they both got to the
ROOM THAT GAZZA final. We have a lot of regrets. go out. We made that small mistake against
In your first match, you scored both goals in
Germany – we dominated the game without
HAD BEEn In – THE a 2-1 win over Russia at Anfield. What was managing to score, and we missed a penalty.
it like to bag the winner in front of the Kop?
We were knocked out with four points. It was
a real pity because I think we could have gone
I’d loved English football ever since I was a kid.
OnE WHERE HE SHOT I used to watch videos, because back then it all the way to the final.
What was the reaction back home in Italy?
wasn’t easy to see games on television. When
we played at Anfield, the stadium was full of
People were more disappointed than angry. It
AT JOURnALISTS” people so it was even more impressive. I was was a combination of poor decisions. No one
could say we didn’t put the effort in, or didn’t
one of the few players in my team to touch the
famous ‘This is Anfield’ sign, and then scoring
Having starred at USA 94 two years earlier,
at that end was indescribable. I played there play well in the matches.
After scoring twice in Italy’s twice and got three goals, one for Chelsea, so Roberto Baggio missed Euro 96 after falling
failed Euro 96 campaign, the I have a lot of affection for that ground. It was out with coach Arrigo Sacchi. Do you think
that was a factor in why it all went wrong?
very lucky for me.
Lazio ace headed to London Why didn’t you start Italy’s second match That’s probably not why we got knocked out.
– but the move was ill-fated against the Czechs, who earned a surprise We had Alessandro Del Piero, Gianfranco Zola
2-1 win at Anfield? and other great players.
It wasn’t just me – half the side was changed, Which memories stand out for you from the
Interview Emanuele Giulianelli maybe around six players. That decision was 1994 World Cup?
made looking ahead to the final group match That was an exhausting World Cup – the heat
was unbearable. The weather was the same
when I went to coach in Qatar with Al-Arabi
not long ago, but it might have been worse in
the US because the pitches were natural grass
with an artificial base. They were so bad. Also,
TEAMS we would often play games at midday, which
Monza was really difficult. We were almost knocked
Juventus out by Nigeria in the last 16. That was a thriller.
Lazio The only thing missing was the happy ending,
Chelsea otherwise it would have been a spectacular
Italy competition for us – we had every chance to
make it epic. Losing the final on penalties hurt.
Would you have stepped up in the shootout
if you had played in the final?
You know, I wasn’t a penalty-taker. I probably
took a couple. At the time, Beppe Signori was
the penalty-taker at Lazio. The ones who took
penalties in the final had already done it in big
competitions before that. But it was a lottery.
What was Sacchi like as a manager?
I worked with Sacchi from 1991 to 1996. For
me, he was such an important coach because
he gave me a big opportunity and made me
see a different type of football to what I knew.
Zdenek Zeman, my coach at Lazio, was better
on the offensive side, but Sacchi was excellent
with the defence and tactics. I learned many

“I’D ALWAYS LOVED THE



EnGLISH GAME AS A KID,


SO TOUCHED THE FAMOUS



‘THIS IS AnFIELD’ SIGn”

things from him. He asked a lot from players
but that was fair – football has changed and it
was going more towards Sacchi’s concept. He
was a forward-thinker.
In 1998, you joined Chelsea for £5.4 million
at a time when it wasn’t common for Italian
players to leave Serie A...
That’s true. Nowadays, guys like Moise Kean
[Everton] and Patrick Cutrone [Wolves] move
to England when they’re younger. Back then,
players would move there towards the end of
their career. I was 29 and still in my prime, but
I joined Chelsea after five seasons with Lazio.
I was looking for something a bit different and
Gianluca Vialli was the coach. I’d played with
him at Juventus and there were other Italians
there like Zola and Roberto Di Matteo. It was
a decision tied to my love for English football. TEAMS
I’d dreamed of playing there since I was a kid. Hajduk Split
What are your memories of your time there? Dinamo Vinkovci (loan)
We beat Real Madrid to win the Super Cup in Cadiz
Monaco early on, and started really well that Derby
season – we were one of the few teams in the West Ham
race with Manchester United and Arsenal. At Croatia
the beginning I found it hard to adjust, which
is normal when you go to a different country,
and when it felt like the time to start scoring
goals I got injured. But I’d do it all over again.
How devastated were you by the knee injury
you sustained just 15 games after arriving, IGOR STIMAC
in a match at West Ham?
I chose to play in that match at the very last
second. I had a temperature but, by chance,
the doctor’s thermometer didn’t work so they
“THE REFEREE STOPPED CROATIA
let me play. Looking back, it was one of those
turning points in your life. At first, I didn’t think
the injury was too bad. I thought I’d be out for
REACHInG EURO 96 SEMIS – AnD
around six months, but things didn’t go well.
In the end, you were forced to retire. You’ve
previously said that you felt Chelsea could
have helped you more? PROBABLY GOInG ALL THE WAY”
It was a peculiar situation. Chelsea had some
debt and it was complicated to be out injured
then. English people are colder and detached The former Derby and West Ham defender was sent off in the
in their human approach compared to Italians. last eight against the Germans – and he’s definitely not over it
No matter who’s right or wrong, I’d take it into
account if someone got hurt in a match for my
team. They didn’t behave as I’d expected, but Interview Ivan Tomic
it’s just a part of life.
What was it like being a team-mate of Paul
Gascoigne at Lazio? You represented Croatia at Euro 96 – their biggest opportunity to attract attention from
Other than being a great footballer, he’s such first major tournament. What was that like? the world and promote our young nation. We
a nice guy – I care about him a lot. When I got An unforgettable mixture of pride, excitement also knew our positive results could help raise
injured and wasn’t in a good place, I’m told he and responsibility. We’d only played friendlies confidence on the front lines, where our fellow
came to London to visit me in hospital. I don’t for more than four years – we’d been waiting countrymen fought Serbian aggressors.
remember it because I was under anaesthetic. for FIFA and UEFA to finally let us take part in What do you remember about your Euro 96
I was in the same room that he was in when qualifying games. But we grew up as a team opener against Turkey at the City Ground?
he hurt his knee – the room where he shot at during that waiting period, and we knew how There was big pressure on us before that first
journalists from the window with a pellet gun! good we could become. Hearing our national match. Of course, everybody wanted us to do
Even though he’s had problems, he’s a great anthem for the very first time at such a huge well and win, against a Turkey side who were
person. He visited me because he has honour. tournament was unbelievable, and such great physical and tough to play against. Thankfully,
You were Zola’s assistant during his spell as feelings never go away. Being part of a historic we beat them 1-0 with a late goal after Aljosa
Birmingham manager in 2016-17. Would you moment was amazing. Asanovic’s fantastic through-ball and Goran
like to work in the Premier League one day? Was there a fierce pride in playing for your Vlaovic’s great run and finish.
I’d like it very much. Getting back there will be nation, after what had happened in the war Five days later, you thumped Denmark 3-0...
very difficult, but working in England is great. just before that? After taking all three points against Turkey, we
Clubs are organised and professional, and it’s It didn’t happen overnight – there were many were in a position to relax and start dreaming
a great league. It would be a good experience signs of the upcoming break-up of Yugoslavia. big. The next game was against Denmark, the
to work there in the future. Representing Croatia in the war years was our reigning champions, and that was the match



FourFourTwo February 2020 107

we enjoyed so much. They were a great team, the past and not feeling comfortable with the
but playing such open and offensive football new approach in the transfer market. I didn’t
CRAIG BURLEY
against us was suicidal. Davor Suker got two want to be part of something I thought might
goals and assisted another for Zvonimir Boban end with a relegation. Jim told me about Harry
– we were through to the quarter-finals after Redknapp’s interest, so I chose to leave.
only two group games. Redknapp and Smith were good friends, so
You lost to Germany in the last eight, with did that make the move easier? “AGAInST THE
their winner coming shortly after you were Of course, it was helpful in that moment. I can
sent off. How upset were you? say I was blessed to work with two managers
That match against Germany was one where like them – they were both old-school English SWISS IT WAS,
we learned that being better on the pitch isn’t managers and you don’t find such characters
enough if the ‘man in black’ has a day off. Very any more. It’s something I miss when I follow
poor refereeing decisions stopped us reaching the Premier League now. I remember how Jim ‘GET UP!’ THEn,
the semis that day, and probably winning the used to be on his toes when I was overplaying
whole tournament. But we knew that our time in dangerous areas, but the fans loved it. That
to prove how good we were would come, and was funny – thank God we never got punished! ‘GO BACK!’ I HAD
we did it at the 1998 World Cup. Harry was so similar to Jim. I remember how
You were already playing for Derby County he’d try to keep everything in order, especially
when Euro 96 came around, and you later when Christmas parties were going on... nO IDEA WHAT
joined West Ham. What are your memories What are your other highlights during your
of English football? time at West Ham?
They were the most enjoyable six years of my We had a great team in 1999-00, built around THE F**K TO DO”
career – playing for great clubs like Derby and experience and talented youngsters. I enjoyed
West Ham and taking part in Croatia’s success every moment and remember the team well:
at Euro 96 and France 98. It was definitely the Shaka Hislop in goal, then me, Rio Ferdinand After representing Scotland at
best part of my professional career. and Ian Pearce at the back, with Neil Ruddock Euro 96, the feisty midfielder
How did your 1995 move to Derby happen? and Javier Margas sometimes coming in. Then infamously headed to Tallinn
I’d had a fantastic season with my hometown Trevor Sinclair right, Marc Keller and later Nigel
club, Hajduk Split. We won all the trophies that Winterburn left. Frank Lampard, Steve Lomas,
were available that season and played Ajax in Michael Carrick, Marc-Vivien Foe, John Moncur
the Champions League quarter-finals. That led and Joe Cole competed in the middle. Upfront Interview Richard Edwards
to interest from a lot of clubs, and I eventually we had Paolo Di Canio, Paulo Wanchope and
decided to sign for Derby. later Fredi Kanoute, Davor Suker and Jermain
Derby won promotion to the Premier League Defoe... it was a joy to be involved in that team What was it like as a youngster at Chelsea
in your first season – how special was that? and be a part of the West Ham family. in the late-80s and early-90s?
I signed for Derby at the end of October 1995. You managed Croatia during qualifying for Behind the goal where the Matthew Harding
At first, the season didn’t look too promising. the 2014 World Cup, but got sacked by your Stand is now, there was a 25ft pole with a sign
They had already played about 17 games and, former team-mate Davor Suker before the on it saying ‘Save the Bridge’. The whole place
if I remember it well, were 17th – much closer play-off. Were you angry with him about it? was crumbling, and there wasn’t much money
to relegation than dreaming about promotion. Yes, I was very angry because we achieved our floating about. There was Vinnie Jones, Andy
But suddenly a few things helped us turn our goals while playing in a negative environment Townsend, Peter Nicholas – they were rough
form around. We went 20 matches unbeaten, at that time. Instead of backing me after going old days. Jonesy would never back down from
finished 2nd and gained automatic promotion. through hell in qualifying, they didn’t. I’m very anything. He’s a real hard guy, Vinnie, and he
Jim Smith’s decision to switch from four at the proud of what we achieved, leading Croatia in doesn’t just play the hard guy. He really is the
back to three, with me playing in my natural the most difficult group with Belgium, Serbia, hard guy. But I’ll tell you what, he was helpful
role as sweeper, was a turning point – as was Scotland, Wales and Macedonia. to me. He’d look after the young kids. All right,
Dean Sturridge’s return from injury. You’ve been linked with the Derby job in the he wasn’t a dazzling twinkle-toes, but he was
Which Derby matches are your favourites? past – would you be keen one day? important to the club at the time.
The final home game of the promotion season There aren’t many things I feel sorry about in How did all the apprentices fuel themselves
against Crystal Palace, then the following year my career, but not accepting Derby’s job offer back in those days?
we played the last-ever match at the historic in 2012 or 2013 is one of them, for sure. Back It was a £2 daily allowance at the hamburger
Baseball Ground. After that, the Queen came then, I was only thinking about trying to lead and kebab shop by Fulham Broadway station.
p
to o to the World Cup in Brazil. I remember going in and the guy would bang
You re now the manager
time
hat
Dea was born during that time tootoo, You’re now the manager of India – how are his fist on the table shouting, “Not paying, not
and I have special memories of my y ence? paying.” It turned out Chelsea were so hard up
m
yoou finding that experie
ond. We’re working
m
relationship with Jim Smith, Steve I’m enjoying every seco back then, they couldn’t even afford to pay the
many projects are in
McClaren, my team-mates and o onn creating a legacy – m burger and kebab guy!
a
especially the Derby supporters. progress to get Ind ia to the World Cup. Was it intimidating for a lad from Scotland
I’ll keep them in my heart for We’re improvin moving down to London?
ng slowly and want
g the contenders to
the rest of my life. t to be among I stayed in digs in north London. The landlord
How did your transfer to r reach the 2026 World Cup in I lived with, Ken Patterson, passed away a few
t
merica. Recently, the
West Ham come about? N North Am years ago, but I’m still in touch with the family.
otball Group bought
Moving to West Ham was C City Foo They’re a really down to earth, humble family.
w
another great challengge a a majo I was there for five years from 16 until I turned
ority stake in Indian
for me. I decided to c club s ide Mumbai City FC, 21. Even as a professional I lived there, as the
leave Derby after a hat’s a clear sign of money wasn’t enough to buy your own house.
annd th
feeling a lack of h how If you’re 18 years old and playing for Chelsea
w things are starting
hange with football
o
respect for how to ch these days, you can buy a big house, a car and
n
he country.
much I’d done in in i tth hire a chauffeur, too.
108 February 2020 FourFourTwo

How did you stay in touch with your family?
The only means of communication back then
was landline telephones. I used to phone my
girlfriend a lot, and I’d be stood in a red phone
box, putting money in to call Scotland. I’d be
smashing whatever change I had left into this
phone, then turning around and seeing eight
people queuing up behind me!
What was it like playing under Glenn Hoddle
when he arrived in 1993?
I’d always liked Glenn as a player when I was
growing up. I fell out with him a few times but
I end up falling out with everyone. It’s just the
way I am. They called me ‘Mr Angry’ at Chelsea
for no reason, and it was a running joke when TEAMS
he was manager that if he wasn’t playing, he Chelsea
would always come on for me. That happened Celtic
a lot. I told him once, “Is that the only f**king Derby
number you’ve got on that board?” He didn’t Dundee
take it too well, though. Preston
You joined Celtic when they were desperate Walsall
to stop Rangers winning 10 successive titles. Scotland
How did you find that experience?
Let’s be honest, if you need to know anything
about a player in Scottish football now, you’d
have to go on Wikipedia. When I went to Celtic,
I can’t tell you how good the quality was. Paul the pressure you’re under at a big tournament.
Gascoigne wasn’t getting regular game time Maybe some players in the modern game go
for Rangers. You had Sergio Porrini going there home and don’t give a flying f**k, but for most
from Juventus. When I turned up, people were guys it really hurts when you make a mistake.
saying, ‘What the bloody hell have we signed Do you still curse Patrick Kluivert’s late goal
him for?’ But no one could really understand against England which sent the Scots home?
the pressure we were under. The fans wanted The game against Switzerland at Villa Park was
to kill us if we lost a game. They were besotted hilarious. It was so surreal. I started the game
with stopping Rangers, and would remind us at right wing-back and Ally McCoist does what
this was the most important f**king season in Ally McCoist does – he misses four open goals, You’re still the last man to score for Scotland
the history of the club. If you couldn’t handle then scores a 25-yarder. Ally couldn’t kick his at a major tournament (above)...
pressure, then it wasn’t a place for you. Luckily, own arse at one point, then he hits a screamer Yeah. I went to the 1998 World Cup in the best
we had players who thrived on it. straight in the top corner. So we’re 1-0 up and shape I’d ever been in. I was flying, but Browny
You were involved in all three of Scotland’s start hearing what’s going on at Wembley. At played me out of position at wing-back. I was
games at Euro 96. What are your memories one point, Craig Brown is shouting to me, “Get the in-form goalscoring midfielder in Scottish
of that tournament? up, get up, we need a goal.” Then two minutes football and doing the graveyard shift. It was
It was a great time. We started off with a 0-0 later he’s screaming, “Go back, go back.” Then only when he put me in midfield that I scored
draw against the Dutch, then Gary McAllister five minutes later it’s, “Get up, get up.” I didn’t against Norway – I ran in behind Henning Berg
missed a penalty against England at Wembley. know what the f**k was going on. Then Kluivert and lobbed Frode Grodas. Frode’s a good pal
He was inconsolable for 24 hours. You couldn’t nutmegs Seaman and we’re going out on the of mine from Chelsea, and he came up to me
grab him off the floor. After the 2-0 defeat, we goals scored rule. at the end of the game to shake my hand. His
went back to our hotel in Staffordshire and had Months after that, you were involved in the first words were, “You bastard.” I said, “Listen,
a couple of beers. Gary had a couple too, then ‘One Team In Tallinn’ World Cup qualifier. you should know me well enough by now – if
went back up to his room. He felt like he’d let Browny had complained about the lights at the I’m through on goal, don’t come off your line!”
everyone down, which he hadn’t. He’d simply stadium being far too low. They were portable How did it feel to score at a World Cup?
missed a penalty. David Seaman saved it with floodlights, so Browny reported that they were I sat for hours as a kid watching a VHS tape of
his elbow – on another day it goes in. But that’s a problem and that we wanted to play during the 1982 World Cup – I must have watched it
daylight hours. The Estonians complained, but over a hundred times. To score at a World Cup
the time was still changed. Then the Estonians was unbelievable. I got back to the hotel and
said they weren’t going to come, but Browny thought, ‘All the s**t years, getting £30 a week
was adamant the Estonian bus would turn up and being homesick in London – all of that was
“ALLY MCCOIST COULDn’T
five minutes before the start, and that they’d worthwhile to be where I am now’. People ask,
pile out of the bus in their kit and play. He was ‘Would you rather play at the World Cup or in
walking around the dressing room saying, “We the Champions League?’ For me, it’s the World
KICK HIS OWn ARSE AT
need to take this seriously and you’re all taking Cup. Pure and simple. You know you won’t win
the piss. The Estonians are going to turn up for it and you know you’re not the best player, but
OnE POInT, THEn HE HITS
this and we’ve got to be ready.” Tosh McKinlay you’re on that platform and to experience it is
threw his arms up in the air to celebrate when incredible. That’s why I feel sorry for all those
we kicked off. John Collins did it too! Scottish players who haven’t been there since.
A 25-YARD SCREAMER”


FourFourTwo February 2020 109

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MY PERFECT XI











JUAn MATA

The former Valencia, Chelsea and current Manchester United playmaker picks a dream

team that opts for attack as the best form of defence – including a childhood favourite



DAVID DE GEA MICHAEL CARRICK
“David is a very good friend, and also the “An unsung hero who always played the
most talented goalkeeper that I’ve ever ball at the right moments and the right
GK
played with – his reactions are amazing. times. He made his team-mates better,
DAVID Every goalkeeping coach will tell you his he controlled matches and, such was his
DE GEA natural ability is unbelievable.” understanding of football, helped games
to flow. Michael [below] made the right
BRANISLAV IVANOVIC decision almost every time.”
“At Chelsea, he could play at right-back
or centre-back and be excellent in either RYAN GIGGS
RB CB CB LB
position. He was strong, very difficult to “We weren’t team-mates for long, but it
BRANISLAV RIO JOHN PATRICE beat one-on-one – and even effective at was a dream to play with him. Ryan was
IVANOVIC FERDINAND TERRY EVRA the other end of the pitch, too.” already a big star when I was a kid and
I looked up to him as a left-footed player
RIO FERDINAND – he was gifted. He broke all of United’s
“He had the next locker to me at United appearance records, could run so quick
and was a great help when I first arrived. and assisted many goals.”
Rio was a leader, and his positioning on
CM
the pitch was always right. He was very WAYNE ROONEY
MICHAEL comfortable with the ball at his feet and “Another of English football’s greats. He
CARRICK
CM CM good in the air as well.” could do everything on the pitch – even
play as a midfielder – so he has to be in
FRANK RYAN JOHN TERRY this XI. He broke the goalscoring record
LAMPARD GIGGS
“A top header of the ball and a leader for for both United and England, and it was
Chelsea. I’d always look for him with my a privilege to play with him.”
free-kicks and he’d be there – I gave him
a lot of assists! He could turn an average DIDIER DROGBA
cross into a good one...” “We’ve shared some fantastic memories
together, especially that night in Munich
RF CF LF
PATRICE EVRA when Didier scored the winning penalty
WAYNE DIDIER DAVID
“He’d been at Old Trafford for eight years in the 2012 Champions League Final. He
ROONEY DROGBA VILLA
before I signed, so he was experienced. could create goals for himself, taking the
He was a key figure in the dressing room, ball in the middle of the pitch and driving
and could defend and attack really well. forward, and was so powerful in the air.”
A great character to have around.”
DAVID VILLA
t
FRANK LAMPARD “I played wi th him for three seasons
a early in our careers, as
“Simply, one of the best players at Valencia
in the history of English football. well as for Spain. A superb finisher
THE GAFFER
Frank scored so many go oals for with both fe
eet, and intelligent in his
RONALD KOEMAN a midfielder. He could sw witch movement w hen positioning himself
d
box to score with one or
the play, pick a pass and also in the b
“This might surprise a few people, but I owe so much to him. arrive in the penalty area two t touches. He wasn’t that
When I was 19, I was having a difficult moment at Valencia at the right time to find tall or fast, but he became
w
and not playing very much. He saw me in training once, took the net. His goalscoring a world-class forward by
eing smart.”
me aside and said: ‘I think you can play, so keep doing what was his best attribute – be
you’re doing. Play with confidence – I’ve got faith in you and how many midfielders A ndy Mitten
want you to express yourself.’ Koeman was the first manager have that? Oh, and he
to trust me in professional football, even though there were could take penalties M ata’s book, ‘Suddenly
other more experienced players in my position, like Vicente.” brilliantly, too.” A Footballer’, is out now








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