The return of. ardof(9& tel» ''""'•ét m Mmbs -TT The Ossie Ardiles File •- i MU4IBÊÊKÊ t^T/dream come true was how new manager Ossie Ardiles described his return to White Hart Lane. Yet it was a vision that he had nurtured since the day that Terry Venables gave him a free transfer as a player back in May, 1988. "I always wanted to come back here as boss and always believed that I would," said Ossie when he took over in June. "You could say that it was my destiny. This club is in my blood and means more to me than any other." When Keith Burkinshaw flew across the world to snap up Ossie and his international team mate Ricky Villa in the ticker-tape wake of Argentina's World Cup success of 1978, it was the prelude to an influx of players from overseas. Few adapted as well as Tottenham's Argentinian duo. And few lasted the pace as well as Ossie Ardiles. While the majority just about completed the requirements of their initial contracts before returning home, Ardiles showed a far greater liking for the challenge of the English League and quickly became a sparkling facet of the domestic scene. Ossie literally skipped through games in that unmistakable style of his as he illustrated skills that transcended coaching and set him apart from those around him. He immediately found the ideal soulmate in Glenn Hoddle, home grown at Tottenham yet with a similar ability to light up games. Ardiles, who had played alongside and against the best in the world, was instantly impressed and their subsequent partnership remains a special memory for Spurs fans of that generation. Now they meet again as managers of London giants Spurs and Chelsea. With neither seemingly sharing a negative thought as to how football should be played, yet already illustrating the success of their ability to communicate their respective styles to their players, both have proved that a silken touch can succeed where others opt for steel. And Paul Gascoigne their natural successor, although again a vastly different performer, is back with Lazio to complete the triumvirate of talent from our immediate past. It doesn't stop there. Ossie's assistant is our former captain Steve Perryman while Glenn's number two at Stamford Bridge is Peter Shreeves who performed every coaching role at White Hart Lane during the Ardiles- Hoddle-Perryman era and twice served the club as manager. Ardiles had no hesitation in appointing Steve as assistant manager. As players and room mates, the pair had often talked about working together should one of them receive the call to return to White Hart Lane. And Ossie never forgot that pledge. Perryman was manager at Watford and would not have stepped down in rank for any other club or any other partnership. Ardiles andTottenham are different. He says: "I had a job to do at Watford and was not looking to become assistant manager anywhere. And had it been Spurs or Ossie it would have been different. Spurs and Ossie? No contest!" Now the pair offer the ideal blend just as they did on the field. At41, Steve is four months older that Ossie, but both turned professional in their respective countries in 1969 and both share a wealth of experience. While Perryman spent most of his playing career and 17 consecutive seasons here, Ossie has seen service in four different countries. Ardiles had 10 memorable years at Spurs and, like Perryman, clearly left his heart here when the Grim Reaper (Football Playing Careers Section) finally made his call. By the time he left for the States, Perryman was already at Oxford United. But by then he had firmly etched his name into the Tottenham history books as our youngest ever captain, aged 20, and our record appearance holder in f8l each major competition. He was also our most frequent ever- present (eight League seasons) and scored at amm, least one League goal WÊÊtf in those 17 consecutive -f. campaigns. Now he and Ardiles return with even greater experience. They wore the white shirt with pride and want others to do so again. Having been out there and done it themselves, should inspire the players in their charge to show similar fortitude and an equally determined will to win. But, even more to the point, Ossie Ardiles will ensure that they do things with a bit of style. Because this, as they say, is Tottenham Hotspur. By John Fennelly Full name: Osvaldo Cesar Ardiles. Born: Cordoba, August 3, 1952. Career: Instituto Cordoba amateur, professional 1969; Huracan 1975; Spurs July, 1978; Paris St. Germain on loan July to December, 1982; Blackburn Rovers on loan March to May, 1988; Released by Spurs May, 1988; Queens Park Rangers August, 1988 to February, 1989; Fort Lauderdale June/July, 1989 10 appearances); Swindon Town player/manager July, 1989; Newcastle United manager March, 1991 to February, 1992; West Bromwich Albion manager May, 1992; Spurs manager June, 1993. Honours: 43 Full caps for Argentina, first v Bolivia 20.6.75 last v Brazil 2.7.82, World Cup winner 1978, Football League representative (two appearances 1987), F.A. Cup winner 1981UEFA Cup winner 1984. As a manager: Football League Division Two play-off winner 1990 and 1993.

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Programmaboekjes (vanaf 1934) | 1993 | | pagina 7