Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
He Hud to do it the hard way
NEW Zealand boss Anthony Hudson says being sacked by Newport in 2011 was one of the best things to ever happen to him. The 36-year-old son of former England international Alan Hudson faces Northern Ireland tomorrow night at Windsor Park. And as he reflects on his journey since being axed by then non-league Newport after only 19 games six years ago, he is remarkably philosophical. “I look back now and I’m so pleased it happened because it’s shaped me for the better,” Hudson said. “In hindsight it was probably one of the best things that happened because I went away and had even more drive and hunger to improve and prove people wrong.” Seattle-born Hudson grew up in West Ham’s academy alongside Michael Carrick, but never made the grade professionally, turning to management with American outfit Real Maryland Monarchs at just 27 and taking charge of Newport three years later. In between he was in charge of Tottenham’s reserves and arrived in south Wales with Harry Redknapp comparing him to Jose Mourinho. Yet in the cut-throat world of British football, he was soon on the scrapheap. “If you don’t have a really strong background as a player, as soon as you have a few bad results, straight away you’re targeted because you’re a young manager. “I was 27 when I got my first job in America. In England people wouldn’t value that too much, but it was a similar thing. “You’re managing a budget, your job’s on the line, earning very little money and trying to survive. It’s pressure.”