IF Manchester City’s kids ever need inspiration, they need look no further than Jason Wilcox.
Twenty-five years ago today he was a Premiership winner with Blackburn on an unforgettable day at Anfield.
Jason Wilcox rose through the Blackburn Rovers ranks and experienced title gloryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The 48-year-old now plies his trade as a coach at EastlandsCredit: Getty – Contributor
Back in 1995, the young left winger was the homegrown star who kept his place as Kenny Dalglish put together a star-studded squad at Ewood Park.
Not that it gets him any kudos from Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Brahim Diaz or any other graduates of City, where Wilcox works as academy director.
He told SunSport: “The lads I deal with these days weren’t even born. Occasionally I get asked about it but they just tend to take the mick, really.
“They’ll have seen a picture of me and want to have a laugh at my haircut back then.”
Actually, City’s young players with high hopes for the future could not ask for a better role model to follow than 48-year-old Wilcox.
As owner Jack Walker bankrolled his beloved Rovers in the early ’90s, a host of big names arrived in East Lancashire. Wilcox was expected to be one of the casualties but Dalglish had full faith in him.
It was an incredible day of mixed emotions, although I’m not sure I realised the magnitude of it at the time.”
Jason Wilcox
He was a regular starter in that title-winning season — becoming a supply line for the famous ‘SAS’ forward line of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton.
So could you say City’s pride and joy Foden is the “Jason Wilcox” of Pep Guardiola’s superstar squad, then?
Wilcox smiled: “I wasn’t as good as Phil, but don’t tell him.
“But yeah, I was a homegrown player among a group of players who’d been brought in — one or two in Al and Chris were bought for big money at the time.
“I’m proud I managed to stick it out having come through the ranks when the club were making top signings.
“You have to be patient, you have to earn the right to get in a team like that.
“When Kenny first came in, Scott Sellars was on the left wing and I finished up having to bide my time on the right wing.
“Then Scott moved on and Alan Wright played there. I had to scrap it out. I was always looking over my shoulder. I had to make sure I was performing.
Wilcox narrowly missed out on a place at Euro 96Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“That was the situation at every top club, that’s what happens at United and City now. If you don’t perform, you are out.”
Wilcox, who won three England caps, cruelly missed out on the thrilling run-in due to a cruciate knee injury.
He sat behind Dalglish at Anfield as Rovers dramatically lost to Liverpool in the final few minutes, but won the title seconds later as it was confirmed that Manchester United had only drawn at West Ham.
Wilcox recalled: “It was an incredible day of mixed emotions, although I’m not sure I realised the magnitude of it at the time.
“I was so elated in some ways. But I was saying to people, ‘I’m not getting a medal’ like a child really, because I hadn’t played in the last games.
“Kenny and Tim Sherwood grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and said I’d get one. I was just feeling sorry for myself.
“But if there’s anywhere you’d want to win it, knowing the rivalry with Man United, it was Anfield. As a kid I was a Liverpool fan and Kenny was my idol.
“To go there and have the whole stadium still in there while we got the trophy and applaud us as we went round the pitch. They were singing You’ll Never Walk Alone — it was unbelievable.
“With Kenny being our manager, it felt like it was almost scripted. I’ll always remember that day and my time at Blackburn — they are amazing memories.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
