January 30 – The Hod Squad | On This Football Day

January 30 – The Hod Squad

IT really is just too obvious and easy to stick the boot in to Glenn Hoddle, so let’s get started.

As a player Hoddle was highly gifted and delighted fans of both Tottenham Hostpur and England with his silky skills for years. Once his playing days were over it looked like he might become one of the few top English footballers who was able to transfer his success to the dug out.

First, as player/manager, he took Swindon into the top-flight before Ken Bates poached him to take over at Chelsea. After doing a decent job there his country came-a-calling after Terry Venables quit as England boss after Euro 96.

Hoddle had risen through the managerial ranks quickly and was just 39 when he got the top job with England. Perhaps it was too soon.

Under the massive media spotlight that comes with The Impossible Job (TM Graham Taylor) Hoddle’s sometimes bizarre methods and poor man-management skills began to come to the fore. According to his former team-mate Tony Cascarino, his comedy timing was also a bit off: “When Glenn tried to be funny, it was time to pass ’round the laughing gas because he was probably the unfunniest man I have ever known. He was also completely besotted with himself. If he had been an ice cream, he would have licked himself.” Hmmm, try not to picture that readers.

But while the England team were playing well Hoddle could deflect the criticisms with some justification and he continued to use ‘faith healer’ Eileen Drewery despite ridicule from the press and his own players.

After getting knocked out of France 98 he made his first big mistake by publishing his book Glenn Hoddle: My 1998 World Cup Story. It was a behind the scenes look at the England set up during the tournament and angered senior players who thought he should not be publishing details of what went on within the dressing room – particularly as it was not all good and Hoddle expected these players to continue playing for him.

Hoddle took some flak but weathered the storm. Much worse was to come.

Today in 1999 The Times newspaper published an interview with Hoddle that would change everything.

“You and I have been physically given two hands and two legs and a half-decent brain. Some people have not been born like that for a reason. The karma is working from another lifetime,” he told Matt Dickinson, then chief football correspondent for the paper.

All hell broke loose immediately. David Mellor, chairman of the government’s Football Task Force led the critics. He said Hoddle’s religion “appears to have become some sort of superstition from the dark ages,” adding that the manager was now “on very thin ice.”

Speaking on BBC radio he said Hoddle’s comments were “insulting, upsetting and ridiculous” and said he felt like strangling the England boss for being “such a damn fool”.

Disabled groups called for Hoddle’s head while Bob Price, Chairman of the British Paralympic Association, said Hoddle’s claim was “as nonsensical as it is unhelpful”.

Hoddle immediately said his remarks were “misconstrued, misunderstood and misinterpreted,” adding: “It’s hurt me. It’s saddened me because there is a lot of work that I’ve personally done to raise money for disabled charities, mentally and physically,” (which he obviously doesn’t like to talk about mate).

Despite vowing to battle on and fight his corner, Hoddle and the English public knew his time was up thanks to Richard and Judy. The pair were interviewing PM Tony Blair who had by now waded in on the story. He was asked: “If Glenn Hoddle has said what he is reported to have said, should he go?”

“Yes,” replied Blair.

Hoddle was sacked four days after the interview was published.

View Hoddle’s most embarrassing moment until the scandal below, and come back for more from us tomorrow.