‘I’ll lose myself in a thriller’
QJust five minutes in to the opening day of the inaugural Premier League season, Brian Deane rises high in the box to head the competition’s first goal and set up a 2-1 Sheffield Utd win. Manchester Utd went on to lift that first title but Deane had grabbed his own slice of history.
Well enough to give England a bloody nose when the two teams meet in the Euro 2020 qualifiers?
QYou spent two years in Norway with Sarpsborg – what was your best managerial achievement?
AvMaybe when we beat Molde towards the end of my first season to take a big step towards staying up against the
odds. Their manager was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left)... what happened to him? I have the utmost respect for that guy because it is too easy for people to sit and take swipes at him. Norwegian football was a good
Q AAnd finally, what does that goal mean still today?
It seems to have become more of a thing the older I have got. I can’t dine out on it but it perhaps gets me a drink or two!
Q AMy big brother Tony. He has always been my mentor when I have been down on my knees. He reminded me once, ‘When everybody else has left, who is going to be there for you?’ It is something every young professional should remember for the times when the glamour is gone.
QYou’ve travelled a lot in your career – where was the toughest place to go?
ABiggest influence on career?
Leeds, when I first got there from Sheffield United. I stopped being me. Again, it was my brother who reminded me who I was.
Q AWho is your favourite author?
David Baldacci. I like to lose myself in a crime thriller. Many people in football read sports biographies but I have had an interesting enough journey with enough issues, so I don’t really want to be reading about anybody else’s.