In part two of my fascinating Big Interview with Jaap Stam, we hear about how Johan Cruyff said that the centre-half could have defended for a team by himself.
There’s great stuff about being part of Manchester United’s annus mirabilis of 1999. Also: playing with and against Filippo Inzaghi, rating Virgil van Dijk, working under Roberto Mancini… and just missing out on promotion to the Premier League as manager of Reading.
Jaap Stam was one of the most eloquent guests we have ever had on the Big Interview.
The Dutch centre-half had a glittering career, not least at Manchester United. He is perplexed by the current state of the club, and compares it to the ultra-competitive environment he arrived at in 1998. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted letting Jaap go was his biggest regret. For Japp, the experience still hurts.
Welcome to our Big Interview Icons series where we shine a light on a legend whose name has lit up some of the conversations I’ve had with my guests over the years. This episode focuses on Andres Iniesta.
Gordon Strachan waxes lyrical about watching Iniesta and says that he would never have believed that the standard of football the great Barcelona side he played in was possible.
David Moyes reflects on a clash between Real Sociedad and that Barca side. David’s team won, but boy, could they not get near Andres.
Someone else who knew how hard it was to dispossess Iniesta is former Swansea, Brighton and Blackpool winger Andrea Orlandi, who played alongside and against him while at Barcelona B. Andrea envied Andres his speed – he was quicker than people realise, with incredible acceleration; and he never gave the ball away.
Finally, we hear how Alex McLeish nearly signed a young Iniesta on loan when manager of Rangers. The bid caused a real fuss at Barcelona, forcing their hand about whether to loan out or start playing the blossoming midfield genius. Sadly for Rangers fans, Barca chose the latter.
In part two of my Big Interview with Ian Cathro, you’ll hear about the Dundonian’s enduring relationship with Nuno Espirito Santo, an extraordinary manager and leader of men.
The pair worked together at Rio Ave, Valencia and Tottenham, but we chatted a lot about their time at Wolves, about how a culture of trust at every level of that club earned success and how, more than anyone, indomitable centre-half Conor Coady was key to the way the team operated.
Also in part two: how to beat Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
That Ian Cathro is one of football’s most highly regarded coaches is all the more remarkable considering he never played the game at a high level. He is still aged just 35 and his success is down to determination, supreme confidence in his own abilities, risk taking and sheer talent.
In part one of our fascinating Big Interview, you’ll hear how a young Ian managed to bag a visit to Porto – at incredibly short notice – where he took in a training session and had a ninety-minute conversation with then manager Andre Villas-Boas which changed his life.
