April 20 – Super Ted!
JURGEN Klinsmann once described Teddy Sheringham as the most intelligent strike partner he had ever had. When he was battling to save Tottenham from relegation in 1998 Klinsy said: “There is only one Teddy Sheringham.
“I know it is impossible to completely replace him. There is just no substitute. But if we had somebody playing like him we would definitely get out of the mess we are in. He is not only a great player but a great person and I learned many things from him when we played together for Spurs.”
Today in 2001 it seemed the esteemed members of the British press agreed with Jurgen the German’s assertion that Ted was something special when the 35-year-old former Millwall man was named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.
The striker, playing at Manchester United at the time, narrowly edged out team-mate David Beckham by just two votes with Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira in third spot and another United player, Roy Keane, in fourth.
“It is an honour bearing in mind the illustrious names who have won it in previous years,” said Sheringham. “This is a very special personal highlight in my career. I’d like to thank all my team mates for their help and support. This is an honour for the club as well as for myself.”
United manager Alex Ferguson added: “I’m delighted Teddy has been voted Footballer of the Year.
“It’s a fitting tribute to a player who has contributed so much to Manchester United this season. It’s always difficult singling out individuals among so many great players but Teddy has been exceptional for us and thoroughly deserves this award.”
And he had been exceptional that year. After coming to prominence at Millwall and then playing with distinction at Nottingham Forest and then his childhood club Tottenham, Teddy signed for Manchester United in 1997. He was already 31 by then and hoping to finally win some silverware in a career that had already spanned 15 years.
Trophies did not immediately follow and United ended the 1997/98 season uncharacteristically pot-less, giving rise to the Spurs chant: “Oh Teddy, Teddy, he went to Man United and he won f . . . all”.
Sheri rather took the wind out of that chant in United’s famous treble winning 1999 season, which he had a key role in, scoring one and setting up the other United goal in their extra time defeat of Bayern Munich in the European Cup final, and scoring in the FA Cup final.
The 1999/2000 season was tougher for Teddy as Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole meant his first team playing time was limited but the following season he was in excellent form and was United’s leading scorer, prompting recognition by the Football Writers’ Association, and the PFA who also voted him player of the season.
He was was the first Englishman to win the Writers’ award since his former England SAS striker partner Alan Shearer won the honour in 1994. Since then it has only been won once by an English player: Frank Lampard in 2005.
At the end of the 2001 season Teddy’s United contract expired and he re-joined Spurs. After two years at White Hart Lane he went on to play for Portsmouth, West Ham and finally Colchester before hanging up his boots in 2008 aged 42 and with more than 700 League appearances under his belt.
Also on this day, England were trying to choose a new manager, and tomorrow we’ll be right here as usual to waste five more minutes of your life.
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