How does an elite middle distance runner become an elite footballer? How does a guy who can’t trap a ball become European Midfielder of the Year – twice? How does that player adapt his penalty technique to become – very nearly – perfect? Gaizka Mendieta says this: “My talent was learning. I wanted to learn.”
It’s the bedrock of his story but this also includes The Doors and Lou Reed, maybe the best under-21 tournament ever, maybe the best goal ever, maybe the best cup run ever – and loads more. I hope you like it.
I wanted to make sure you could watch this goal Gaizka scored in the Copa del Rey final of 1999. It is, I think, the best I have been present for.
And in the podcast I link it to the name of Frank Worthington, who some of you may recall and some of you may not. This is the goal I was thinking about. You can make the call of which you like better on the podcast Twitter feed.
