You can probably name every manager in the Premier League – but what about their trusty right-hand man who stays in the background despite playing a vital role in the club’s success.
An assistant’s role is a complex and challenging one. He has to be the manager’s right-hand man, and yet he’s got to be the players’ trusted confidante. A good assistant can form the bridge between the team and the manager and they tend to be closer to the players normally after having a successful career in the game.
They tend to be ex pros who performed at the highest level of the game – often in contrast to the manager – for example Pat Rice and Arsène Wenger at Arsenal, Joe Jordan and Harry Redknapp, or the former impressive partnership of José Mourinho and Steve Clarke at Chelsea.
Some of these assistants have had a fling at management but it hasn’t quite worked out. Perhaps they didn’t get along with the intense media scrutiny that being a manager has, or perhaps they weren’t good at making the unpopular decisions. Whatever it is, here is their moment of fame as we show our appreciation for the top henchmen in the Premier League.
Click on Pat Rice to see the selections
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You’ve come out of your local town’s youth structure, you’ve signed a scholarship with the Arsenal academy and by the age of 18-20 you’re getting a few chances to impress in the first team proper. Yes, Arsene Wenger has been more proactive than most in fast-tracking talents of a more youthful variety into the first team reckoning over the years with a heavy focus on learning and development. It is difficult to undermine the work of the Frenchman with Jack Wilshere, Wojciech Szczesny and Emmanuel Frimpong more recently representing that the endless conveyor belt of talent is still in fully working order.
But if we look back retrospectively, every manager makes mistakes and from an early age, a wise old head can usually gauge whether a player is going to go on to sample a successful long career or not. Arsene Wenger infamously released a young Jay Bothroyd at 18 after the striker threw his shirt at youth team coach Don Howe in frustration at getting substituted. Whilst Bothroyd has tasted relative success elsewhere, this example represented that Wenger takes pride in a good grounded attitude in his players when coming through the system, and if this is sound enough, praise and rewards of a first team berth shall be the repayment. But if we look the attitudes and careers of some past and present Arsenal academy stars such as Nicklas Bendtner, Jermaine Pennant, David Bentley and Denilson, a belief of their own hype and a seemingly inflated opinion have derailed their progress, and their distractions have led to an intermittent career at Arsenal and in football as a whole. So in the case of these players, is Arsene Wenger’s grooming to blame?
Perhaps Nicklas Bendtner is the greatest example of an ego-tripped youth whose performances don’t always match up with those envisaged in his head. Currently on loan at Sunderland, after failing to capture the imagination at the Emirates, the Dane makes himself an easy target whether wearing bright pink boots or simply making brash quotes about his play in the press; his most famous quote being
‘If you ask me if I am one of the best strikers in the world, I say yes.’
Alright Nicklas! Making his Gunners debut in 2007, Bendtner has gone on to strike 22 goals in 99 appearances which isn’t the worst record but at the expectant North London club, a few inconsistent glimpses of clinical striking abilities each season simply isn’t enough to satisfy the watching spectators. Wenger has refused to condemn his overstated opinion over the years and has only praised his mental strength at responding to criticism whilst giving him plenty chances to impress with 27 Premier League appearances representing his involvement last term. It seems Bendtner’s talent has been a bit forced in contrast to the likes of Kieran Gibbs or Jack Wilshere who have recognised their rise to prominence more quietly.
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Additionally, Bendtner’s task as a striker will always be more difficult as he will naturally be judged upon his goal tally and when key strikers have been out at Arsenal, the Dane who is still learning the game has been the inadequate replacement. Another currently on loan to his native Sao Paulo is Denilson and his transfer in the summer again represents the backward step made by the youngster as punishment for his coasting whilst being given many first team outings. Surely both players would find themselves in the 2011/12 Gunners’ squad had they made the most of their opportunities in former seasons.
Side-tracked Arsenal youth isn’t an exclusive phenomenon to recent times however, with David Bentley in 2003 representing another who showed great promise, yet has gone on to sample mediocrity at Tottenham in his career. After scoring an audacious lob in a 4-1 FA Cup triumph over Middlesbrough at Highbury, tongues were wagging and even Dennis Bergkamp likened his play and made this bold judgement in response to young Bentley’s performances
“He’s not afraid not to do something wrong, that’s the main thing for a young player – not to have any fear. If you don’t try a chip like that, you’ll never succeed”.
Manager Arsene Wenger similarly jumped on the Bentley-Bergkamp bandwagon stating
“David has a long way to go to match what Dennis has done in his career, but it was a typical Bergkamp goal”.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and perhaps Bentley was misguided by these bold quotes at the time, but to put big ideas into young and impressionable heads is certainly questionable amidst an importance to remain level-headed at that age. Perhaps the example of Bentley has made Wenger even tighter with his fast tracking of Arsenal youth these days with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain still in and out of the team in respect of his age, learning and exposure to top level football. Showing he can cut it at the top in glimpses, Wenger will have learnt not to burn his youth out such as in the case of Jack Wilshere or to introduce and expect great things immediately such as in the case of Theo Walcott.
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Whilst many young stars have gone on to achieve acclaimed careers in North London, a handful have also reminded us all that even Wenger can get it wrong at times in terms of mentality and grooming . The readily published myth that the Arsenal academy is flawless is certainly one that could be deemed wide of the mark.
Is Wenger or the players to blame for inflated egos and missed opportunities? Follow me @ http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989
It’s not often you hear about a footballer contracting a rare illness, it’s even more unlikely you see that same player make a comeback in the professional game. But, that’s exactly what happened to Markus Babbel. The German defender, who is best known by fans in England for his time at Liverpool, overcame a life-threatening illness to play football once more. But, what happened after his time in England came to an end?Babbel started out with his hometown club Bayern Munich at a very early age, progressing through their youth system. He made a handful of appearances for the first team before moving on to fellow German club Hamburg in 1992. Following a successful two-year spell here, in which he became an established first-team player, Munich were convinced to buy him back.The Munich yearsMunich were the great force in German football at this time and Babbel was able to pick up several major honours during his time there. These included three Bundesliga titles, two German cups, the UEFA Cup and, of course, a runners-up medal for the famous 1998/99 Champions League Final against Manchester United.Also, during his time with Munich, he broke into the German national side and became a regular member of the side. He picked up a winners medal from Euro 1996, after Germany beat Czechoslovakia in the final – a match Babbel played in. His performances at the competition did not go unnoticed and a rumoured move to Manchester United had been on the cards. However, the move did not go through and he remained at Munich for several more years – before joining Liverpool in June 2000.In his first year at Infield, he helped the club to a fantastic treble of the League Cup, FA Cup and the UEFA Cup. He became known for his attacking play from full-back and even helped set up a goal in the UEFA Cup final. However, not all was well for Babbel, who had begun to complain of tiredness and fatigue towards the end of the season. Thinking it was just general wear and tear, he returned after the summer break with optimism.Life-threateningHowever, the problem continued and he was substituted at half-time during the first few games of the season. Further tests confirmed that Babbel was suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome – a rare illness that affects the nervous system and can cause life-threatening symptoms. This kept him out of action for around a year, most of which he spent in hospital back in Germany.[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]But when he returned to fitness, he was unable to get back into the first team, restricting him to just a few appearances in the 2002/03 season. He was sent out on loan to Blackburn for the next season, where he was a regular in the side. Upon his return to Liverpool, he left the club and moved back to Germany to join Stuttgart.He found himself in and around the first team for the majority of his time at the club, and even helped them to the Bundesliga title in the 2006/07 season – which also proved to be his last playing season. However, he was able to stay on at the club as assistant manager to Armin Veh.Manager MarkusWith the club expected to once again challenge for major honours, there was understandably a lot of pressure on the duo. This began to show just a couple of months into the season and, with the club languishing in 11th in the league, Veh left the club. Babbel was appointed manager immediately and managed to turn the fortunes around and helped them to a third-placed finish.Stuttgart rewarded him with an extended contract, but this was not to last. Despite helping them to second place in their Champions League group, the club continued to struggle in the league. In December 2009, with the club in 16th place in the Bundesliga and facing a battle to avoid relegation, Babbel was sacked.After spending a few months away from the game, Babbel was given the chance to return to management with recently relegated Hertha ‘BSC’ Berlin. Here, Babbel regained a lot of credit as a manager as he helped the club win the league and gain an immediate return to the Bundesliga.With just one game left until the end of the season, Babbel can look forward to a summer of building a team capable of competing in Germany’s top league. Nobody would begrudge Babbel a second chance at managing at the top. A man with such determination, which saw him battle for his life and return to professional football at the highest level, one cannot help but admire him.Good luck Markus. If you continue to manage with such determination as you played, then a return to England might not be too far away.FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage’s Face in a Baby Scan[ffcvideo file=’robbie_savage’]
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will be able to prise Cesc Fabregas away from Arsenal this summer.
Barca had made the Gunners skipper their main target this summer, but the chances of the midfielder leaving north London have faded as the weeks have gone by.
The 23-year-old Spain international has said at the end of last term that he would welcome the opportunity to return to the club where he started his career but Arsenal have already rejected one bid for Fabregas from Barca.
"I think bringing in Cesc will cost a lot," Guardiola said at a press conference on Monday. "We want him to come, but if Arsenal don't want to negotiate, he won't come."
Meanwhile, Guardiola has spoken of his decision to sign a new one-year contract with last term's La Liga champions, adding:"I'm very happy to continue for one more year. I want to keep on doing my job well and make people proud of us.
"I feel more comfortable with one-year contracts. I am grateful to the confidence shown in me by the new board in offering me a six-year contract, but I prefer working with short contracts, it's something personal.
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"I need to feel that things are working and that what I am doing is right, but if everything is going well and I feel strong, I will carry on next year.
"I don't see any change but, if after this first year the feedback with the players, the feedback is not good or the results aren't good, I won't stay on."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Ajax striker Luis Suarez has been mooted as a target for big name Premier League clubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, but has been linked most prevalently with Manchester United.
The Uruguayan has become hot property this summer after his performances for both his club and his country in the World Cup.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a great 2009/10 season for Eredivisie club Ajax scoring an astonishing 49 in 48 games. Because of his goal record he has naturally caught the eye of Europe’s elite, but his stock could rise even further as his native Uruguay are having a great World Cup campaign and are due to meet South Korea in the second round.
Suarez comes with a hefty price tag, which is believed to be around £30+ million and some are critical of the Dutch top flight and some of its stars (remember Mateja Kezman?).
Now that Wayne Rooney is the main man in the Red Devils’ setup I am not sure where Suarez could fit into a side where the former Everton man has been so prolific as a lone striker. However, Suarez has a great relationship with Uruguay and Atletico Madrid’s ex-United forward Diego Forlan at international level.
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On the other hand, Manchester United seemed to struggle at times last season when Rooney was absent through injury. Some of the Old Trafford faithful may blame the indifferent form near the end of season (suring Rooney’s layoff) which ended up relinquishing their run as Premier League champions.
The one criticism I would have of Suarez at times would be the fact that his final product (when playing as a supporting striker) can seem hurried, wasteful or not good enough as he showed in his opening World Cup game against France.
Suarez is reportedly happy in Amsterdam, but says if it’s a United or Barcelona in contact with you then you take notice:
“Those are the elite teams of Europe. When they are on the phone you listen.
“But for a club in a category below that, I will not leave. I am having too much of a good time at this club. I feel loved and appreciated and that feels good.”
The Old Trafford outfit will have to be careful with their money though as Dimitar Berbatov is already regarded as a big money flop (a little unfairly in my opinion) that cost in the excess of £30m.
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With United’s £1.1 billion debt as revealed by Sir Alex Ferguson’s favourite TV show Panorama, who suggest that the debt the Glazer family has run up may be catching up with them, the price may be too high. However, judging from his performances for club and country he would surely be a great buy for any of the clubs linked with him.
Would the Manchester United fans like to see their club break the bank for Luis Suarez, or is there enough striking talent at the club already?
Manchester City is aiming for two wins over Stoke in the space of four days when the two teams square off on Tuesday night.It was 1-0 to City on Saturday as the Citizens broke their 35-year trophy drought in the FA Cup final at Wembley and Robert Mancini’s charges will be full of confidence heading into their penultimate clash of the Premier League season at the City of Manchester Stadium.
And if you thought that City have nothing to play for this season after their Cup victory, then think again as third place on the table is still a possibility.
Arsenal’s shock loss at home to Aston Villa on Sunday has left the door open for City and a win here will see Mancini’s side leapfrog Arsene Wenger’s team heading into the final weekend of the season.
Manchester City currently have 65 points compared to Arsenal’s 67, but victory here and then another three points in their final game of the season against Bolton at Reebok Stadium will mean automatic qualification for the Champions League next season.
Mancini has no fresh injury concerns, with long-term absentees Shay Given and Jerome Boateng the only players certain to be missing, although the Italian may freshen his team from the 11 that played on Saturday.
Stoke have already exceeded expectations this season, with Tony Pulis’ side currently sitting in ninth spot on the table with 46 points.
A win would see them jump past Fulham into eighth, but a loss against City combined with defeat in their final game of the season at home to Wigan could see them drop as low as 15th.
Matthew Etherington was substituted at half-time of the FA Cup final and may miss this clash, but there are no fresh injury worries for Stoke.
Danny Higginbotham, Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe are all out injured and will not feature.
In the corresponding fixture played earlier this season the points were shared, with Micah Richards giving City the lead late in the match, only for Etherington to salvage a 1-1 draw for Stoke with a stoppage time strike.
So England have started their qualification campaign for Euro 2012 positively, with solid wins over Bulgaria and Switzerland, but what exactly did we learn from these victories?
1. Jermain Defoe still suffers from inconsistency
Jermain Defoe was arguably England’s best player against Bulgaria, netting a very clinical hat trick. His movement was good and his finishing was excellent, and he posed a threat to the Bulgarian defence the entire time he was on the pitch. However, his peformance against Switzerland was less impressive. Defoe had a number of chances in the game which went to waste and he did not look like a threat to the Swiss defence, a fact which was emphasised when Darren Bent came on and put away a nice finish. Defoe suffers from similar form at Tottenham, where he will often go through barren patches followed by spells when he looks lethal. Inconsistency is the one thing holding Jermain Defoe back from being a top class striker, but at the age of 27 it seems unlikely that this is going to change.
2. Adam Johnson can offer a potent threat
Adam Johnson came on as a sub for Theo Walcott against Bulgaria and Switzerland, and he was very impressive in both of these games. Against Bulgaria Johnson only came on in the 74th minute, but he showed some superb glimpses and buried a good finish for England’s third goal. Against Switzerland he came on in the 13th minute as Walcott came off injured, and was England’s most threatening player. Johnson looks to be a real talent, with pace, excellent dribbling skills and perhaps most importantly, an end product. If he can maintain and improve upon this promising start to his international career, he could be a very big player for England for years to come.
3. Glen Johnson is an asset for the team
Everyone is aware of Glen Johnson’s defensive frailties, which in my view are overstated at times. He does need to improve in this area, but Johnson offers a real threat going forward and gives an added dimension to the England attack. He is a powerful runner, a good dribbler and can provide the final balls that create goal-scoring chances, as he did for Wayne Rooney for the first goal against Switzerland. There are very little alternatives at right-back for England and Johnson has really made this position his own in recent years.
4. Steven Gerrard excels in a central position
Steven Gerrard is still one of England’s key players and he played well in both qualification games, as well as putting in a match winning performance in the friendly against Hungary. Capello has often fielded Gerrard on the left, as he did during the World Cup, and in this position the Liverpool captain did not look at his best. As he is for his club, Gerrard is at his most effective when driving his team forward from the centre of the park, providing great passing ability and a goal-scoring threat from midfield. Against Switzerland he was the creator of the second goal, providing an incisive pass which Adam Johnson finished with aplomb. Gerrard must play centrally for England, and you get the impression Capello has realised this.
5. Personal problems should not affect selection
Over the weekend Wayne Rooney became the latest England player to be embroiled in tabloid stories about his alleged infidelity. Capello was unmoved however, and he made the correct call in picking Rooney to start against Switzerland, a decision that was rewarded with Rooney’s first international goal in year. A players personal problems should not affect whether the manager chooses to play him or not, and in fairness to Capello this is something he stands by. In my view, a players private life is their own and it should not generally have a bearing on their career.
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Watch the video below to see why England should host the 2018 World Cup!
Liverpool striker David N'Gog does not harbour any desire to leave Anfield on a permanent or temporary basis.
The 21-year-old was criticised by many Reds fans for his poor displays in a lack-lustre team last season although he did manage to score eight times in 36 matches.
The former Paris St Germain star has been linked with a summer switch to West Brom but is keen to stay on Merseyside and show new boss Roy Hodgson what he can do.
"I know speculation is part of football and we have to deal with it. If we bring in new players, it is good for the team," he said.
"But I am a Liverpool player. I want to be involved in the first team at Liverpool.
"My confidence is good. Now I have to do my job and give my best for the team.
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"I am more experienced now and I want to be involved, play as many games as I can and score goals to help the team win.
"The club had a difficult season last year but I want to prove we can get back into the top four. I am confident about this."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has no plans to retire following his impressive start to the new season.
The soon to be 36-year-old midfielder took the plaudits after man-of-the-match displays in both the Community Shield victory over Chelsea and Monday night's opening 3-0 Premier League win against Newcastle United.
Scholes has made almost 650 appearances for the Red Devils during 17 seasons in the first team and insists he will carry on playing as long as he continues to enjoy his football.
"I haven't set any limits," said the midfield playmaker."I'll just keep going, hopefully keep playing well and getting in the team and just see where it goes from there.
"It depends on performances and how you play. I did go through last season thinking this might be the last time I played against this team or stuff like that. But I just don't know. My performances will decide when I finish.
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"At 35 I thought that would be it. From being young and first getting into the squad, you just presume everyone will finish at 35 and that's it. Whatever you do after that is a bonus. At the end of last season I felt okay and hopefully this season I will do as well."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Inter Milan climbed to third place in Serie A on Thursday with a 3-0 win over bottom side Bari at the Stadio San Nicola.
The result makes it six wins from seven league games for Inter under new boss Leonardo, and after an indifferent start to the season the defending champions are now just seven points behind league leaders AC Milan with a game in hand.
Inter would have been expecting a victory against lowly Bari, but had to wait until the 70th minute to break the deadlock, when Moroccan midfielder Houssine Kharja played a neat one-two with Samuel Eto’o before beating Bari goalkeeper Jean Francis Gillet with a low shot from an acute angle.
That was where the scoreline stayed until the fourth minute of injury time when a through ball from Thiago Motta played Giampaolo Pazzini into space and the striker cut inside his marker before firing a low shot past Gillet.
A minute later it was 3-0 when a Javier Zanetti cross was chested down by Thiago Motta into the path of Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder who blasted home from close range with the last kick of the game.
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The loss leaves Bari five points adrift of Brescia – their next opponents – at the bottom of the table, while Inter welcome fifth-placed Roma to the San Siro on Sunday.