I’D DRIBBLE ROUND THIS FARM ON MY OWN AS A KID …THAT’S HOW I SCORED THAT GOAL
We go to Ricky Villa’s Argentinian ranch to discuss his iconic Cup final winner
Ricky Villa is texting to explain how to find him on his ranch. ‘Just head 80 miles south-west of Buenos aires on the road towards the andes, to the farming town of Roque Perez. Then ask someone.’
it’s a small town. ‘Everyone knows where i live,’ says Villa. after all, there aren’t many World cup winners in Roque Perez.
On the farm, with his cows and horses, set deep in the argentinian Pampas, Villa is the scorer of one of English football’s most iconic goals.
Even a generation yet to be born in 1981 are familiar with its Fa cup re-runs: the Spurs man’s acceleration which wrong-foots Manchester city’s Tommy caton and Ray Ranson; the smart turn which completely bewilders the defence; the cut back inside followed by a cool finish past a sprawling Joe corrigan. and, of course, the ecstatic, wild celebration.
it felt like he beat six or seven defenders, though he actually went past Ranson and caton and then went back and beat them again, for fun. it won Tottenham the cup. More than that, it made Villa one of the most celebrated figures of 1980s English football.
it was a great goal. But perhaps without the back story and his charisma it might not be so important in the history of the world’s oldest football competition. Villa looks sleek, sun-tanned and full of life when we meet. He retains the charm and natural affinity which endeared him to English fans, even at a time when the nation was at war with argentina.
He lives here with his wife, Maria cristina Giannini: they married a year before coming to England. His first two daughters, Maria Eugenia and Martina Elizabeth, were born in England in 1980 and 1982.
He has a third daughter, Mariana cristina, 34, and a son, Ricardo Martin, 32, who works the farm with him. Five grandchildren will populate the farm when his daughters return from Buenos aires for family visits. He has the air of a man content with life.
He knows what the topic for this interview will be — there is only one starting point for conversation. ‘That goal almost makes it seem as though i only played one match and only scored one goal!’ he says. ‘My whole life and all the questions i’m asked are about that goal.’
There is a direct link between the farm, where he grew up and now owns, and the goal.
Villa only entered the pro game at the age of 17 with Quilmes in Buenos aires. Before that he had been playing with amateur teams in Roque Perez and training on his own at the farm, where he simply dribbled the ball around.
He recalls his first professional training session at Quilmes. ‘all the coaches were shouting, “Pass! Pass!” and i was thinking, “What is this, ‘pass’?”
‘i spent a lot of time on my own growing up so i found it hard to pass the ball. So that goal came from my childhood, where you don’t need anyone, just a few players around you to cause a distraction and give you enough time to dribble to goal.’
Time has only seemingly increased its significance. He has recently been in England, staying with lifelong friend Ossie ardiles, and when he visits, the questions are almost always about one moment.
‘in argentina, you get a wider selection of questions. They ask you about the club, what the league was like, not specifically about the Fa cup.’
Villa was part of the seismic transfer deal (£750,000 for the pair) that brought ardiles to England in 1978. ardiles had met Tottenham manager keith Burkinshaw in Buenos aires after the World cup and quickly agreed to join.
He then suggested his friend and team-mate Villa as a companion. ardiles explained: ‘He was my room-mate in the World cup. i said to Ricky, “come on, we’re going to England”. He said, “What?! P*** off! i’m very happy here”.’
‘We wanted to play in Europe, in Spain or italy,’ said Villa. ‘But we didn’t hear a lot about the English league. But you have to make a quick decision and if you say “no”, maybe it never comes again.’
The hoopla surrounding their arrival was huge, though it took almost three years for the team, which had just been promoted from the Second Division, to thrive and reach the cup final. Back then, the final was the thrilling climax of the season.
I was 17 and the coaches were shouting: ‘Pass! Pass!’ I was thinking, ‘What is this “pass”?’
Pop songs were recorded and appearances on Top of the Pops were obligatory.
The narrative of Tottenham’s single, Ossie’s Dream, performed by Chas & Dave but featuring the Spurs players singing with admirable gusto, was the story of Ardiles arriving in England and wanting to play at Wembley in an FA Cup final. Villa’s role was, again, secondary.
The 1981 final was shown live in Argentina and expectation was immense. Yet come the day, Tottenham were poor and Villa was terrible, substituted after an hour with Spurs losing 1-0.
‘I don’t think we played very well, and I certainly wasn’t great. I try to explain this to English people, that there was no “in between” with me. I either played well or I was poor. In that game I was poor, but it was almost as if it was normal for me. I wasn’t very consistent.’
Villa was too upset to return to the bench so headed for the dressing room, which meant a walk of 80 metres around the greyhound track at Wembley. Fans and TV viewers could see his despair close up. The dream, it seemed, was over.
As with all great stories, a chance for redemption presented itself. An own goal from City’s Tommy Hutchison, who scored the opener, meant the game ended 1-1 and a replay on the Thursday night.
There was much debate as to whether Villa deserved to play in the replay. Burkinshaw consulted his captain, Steve Perryman, who felt his reaction to being subbed should rule him out. When Perryman recalls the story now he can’t fathom why he felt so strongly, given his friendship with Villa.
‘I’ve spoken to Steve about that,’ says Villa. ‘That’s in the past. Keith didn’t listen, he picked me. I thought I’d have another chance, but I’ve thanked Keith for trusting me and giving me another opportunity.’
The replay couldn’t have been more different for Villa. He scored on eight minutes, but City went 2-1 up. Garth Crooks equalised. The came Villa’s moment, in the 76th minute.
‘I’d always wanted to get forward. I had extra motivation that day. When I made my run towards goal, I didn’t think I would score, but then everything opened up.
‘There was huge satisfaction. The club and my team-mates had treated us fantastically well and I felt we’d given something back for the affection. It was unique, unforgettable.
‘The club spent money on two world champions and the fans hoped to win things. I loved it, as I was able to give something back, not in terms of money, but in hopes and dreams.
‘I was fortunate to play a little at the 1978 World Cup but the FA Cup was different. I played a defining role and it’s at least on the level of the World Cup win.’
The 1981 win was significant in that it sparked a revival at Spurs, the last period in their history when they became significant collectors of silverware, going on to win the 1982 FA Cup and 1984 UEFA Cup. It was a team full of characters: Perryman, Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, Chris Hughton, Crooks and Steve Archibald.
Villa would leave in 1983, spend time at Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the USA, in Colombia and then three seasons playing in Argentina. Yet nothing would match the 1981 FA Cup. For Spurs, there would be another FA Cup under Terry Venables — and League Cups under George Graham and Juande Ramos — but since then, nothing to compare with the team of the 1980s.
Nevertheless, Villa believes the revival under Mauricio Pochettino will yield silverware.
‘He’s the right man. The English players respect the coherence he brings and he convinces everyone this is how to play.
‘Every day he tells the players, “Forget about the money. Play for the game, like an amateur”.
‘They will win a trophy. The first is always the hardest.’
At least the club are applying the most important strategy to ensure Cup success.
‘I tell people at the club there should always be at least two Argentines in the team,’ laughs Villa. ‘ Now you have Erik Lamela and Pochettino. Our history tells us it’s important to have two Argentines!’