CHRIS COLEMAN was left stunned by Michael Jackson’s feet when he visited Fulham.
The King of Pop entered the home dressing room at Craven Cottage back in April 1999.
He had attended the club’s 2-0 win over Wigan in the third tier alongside then owner Mohamed Al-Fayed.
Jackson’s infamous visit was later immortalised by a statue at Craven Cottage during Al-Fayed’s time as owner.
Meanwhile, former player and manager Coleman did not believe it was really the singer meeting the players after the match.
Even once convinced, he was shocked by the size of Jackson’s feet.
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Recalling the visit, he told the Fulham Fix podcast: “We thought it was a ringer.
“There was a rumour every week that Mohamed (Al-Fayed) was bringing someone, right. He brought Tony Curtis. Then someone said ‘Michael Jackson’s coming’. We’re like ‘it’s not going to be Michael Jackson, there’s no way Michael Jackson’s coming here, it’s got to be a ringer’.
“He came in after the game. We’re all in there with our towels on, Kevin (Keegan) says ‘Lads, the chairman is coming in so make sure you’re decent. And he’s coming in with a guest.’
“Someone’s said ‘Michael Jackson’, I’m like ‘shut up, Michael Jackson at the Cottage’. Tony Curtis was one thing but Michael Jackson.
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“He came and I’m like ‘that’s him’. I remember his feet were massive and I remember thinking ‘ah, that’s why he does the lean forward’ cause he’s got size 15s. Massive feet.
“They looked like 15s, I don’t know if they were. But I was like ‘wow’ and it was him.”
As for Coleman’s team-mates, they had a different reaction as he added: “I felt a little bit sorry for Michael Jackson, with footballers being footballers.
“He’s probably in there two minutes but then the lads started doing the moonwalk right in front of him. Giving it the old ‘woo’ like that and the kick.”
The ex-Wales boss also revealed: “He was a gentleman. Quiet, very quiet, but he was a gentleman.”
Fulham went on to win promotion as champions in 1999 before reaching the Premier League two years later.
It was part of a remarkable rise during Al-Fayed’s ownership which also included 12 years of top flight football and a Europa League final before his departure in 2013.
As for Coleman, he spent five years with the Cottagers as a player after signing in 1997.
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Following a career-ending injury in 2002, though, he stayed on as a coach before serving as manager between 2003 and 2007.
The 53-year-old has since managed in Spain, Greece and China but has been out of work since leaving Atromitos in October.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
