MY FOOTBALL
The Kasabian frontman on doing Muzzy Izzet’s head in and lobbing David Seaman
What was the first game that you ever attended?
My dad took me along to Leicester vs Liverpool at Filbert Street in 1986. Back then you could get close to the players – he took me close to the tunnel, and I shook Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish’s hands. Meeting Rush was a big deal, as my family is Italian and he was going there to play for Juventus, which was very rare back then. We lost and I was only five, but I knew then that the team in blue had hooked me, and I was in it for life.
Do you have a matchday routine?
If it’s a big game, I’ll probably meet a few pals I’ve been going to matches with for 25 or 30 years, but I just like to get into the ground early and soak everything up.
Who was your childhood hero and did you ever meet them?
The Martin O’neill era and that team from 1995 to 2000 is ingrained in my heart – players like Steve Walsh, Muzzy Izzet, Matty Elliott, Emile Heskey and Simon Grayson. Muzzy was my favourite player, I just loved his story – not wanted at Chelsea, and people doubting him because of his slight frame. He came to Leicester and just set it on fire. He’s become a good friend, which blows my mind – I’m sure I do his head in, because I’m always asking for stories about that team. Away from Leicester, I’d say Roberto Baggio was my big hero.
What’s been your finest moment as a player?
A goal during Soccer Aid [ left] at Old Trafford in 2012. You have forks in the road of your life, and I often wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t picked up a guitar when I was 15, if I’d worked harder at trying to become a footballer. That day, I got to live that dream – sitting around
Roy Keane, Jaap Stam, Edwin van der Sar and Clarence Seedorf while they were chatting about the Champions League. Just that was amazing. I was 31 and I could still play a bit – I had a Vodka Red Bull before I went out to play that day, as I do before all my gigs. Freddie Ljungberg played a lovely ball through, I had Martin Keown chasing me and I didn’t think I had the pace, so I spotted David Seaman off his line and went for the chip. If I did it a million times, I doubt it would have looped over him as perfectly as it did! Against a proper keeper, too – not a celebrity keeper like Jamie Theakston. I went in at halftime with my shoulders back thinking I was the man – Roy Keane just looked at me and said, “That was a f** king cross, wasn’t it?”
How has watching football changed for you since you were a kid?
When Kasabian really took off, my life went a little crazy at times, but it’s always been great going to watch Leicester with my mates – we have a bond that goes back many years. No matter how big the band was, when you’re at the football everything just feels normal again.
Can you believe the ride Leicester have been on in your lifetime?
Being a Leicester fan took a mad turn. Under Martin O’neill, we won the League Cup twice and we were happy with that. We’ve been through ups and downs – the downs were horrific, playing Yeovil in League One, through to the unbelievable high of winning the Premier League within 10 years. I couldn’t believe it. Our dreams were the cups, maybe seeing if we could sneak into the Europa League, but nothing beyond that. No one saw that [ Premier League title] happening.
What was it like for Kasabian to play during Leicester’s title celebrations?
We’d booked to play the King Power Stadium in the summer of 2017, to coincide with the launch of our new album For Crying Out Loud. In April 2016, Leicester thrashed Swansea 4- 0 and it looked like we might actually win the Premier League title, so I rang our manager, told him I thought we were going to win the league, and that we needed to bring the gig forward a year. As far as I was concerned, we definitely had to play there if we won the Premier League. We played two nights, then the club asked us to play as part of the celebrations in Victoria Park after the trophy parade. Those few months were amazing and mad.
“MUZZY IZZET IS A GOOD FRIEND. I DO HIS HEAD IN ASKING FOR STORIES ABOUT THAT LEICESTER TEAM”
Who from your club’s past would you bring back for your current side?
Definitely Izzet [ above] – I’d also bring back Steve Walsh. He can play at the back, but if you’re pushing for a goal in the last 10 minutes, you can throw him up front and go for it.
What’s your favourite football book?
My dad once gave me A Season With Verona, and it’s phenomenal. It really caught me – it’s a great book and I’d highly recommend it.
If you could drop yourself into your all- time five- a- side team, who would you be playing alongside?
Jamie Vardy is in there, 100 per cent. If we’re talking about Leicester, then I’d take him over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – that’s how good I think he is. Then I’d go for Paolo Maldini, he’s the absolute don, Rene Higuita in goal to bring a bit of entertainment, plus Andrea Pirlo in midfield. Not too bad…
If a member of Kasabian pulled out of a gig at short notice, who from the world of football would you call to replace them?
We had Peter Crouch up on stage with us at the Isle of Wight Festival and he was really good fun, but I think I’ll go for Ronaldinho because he already looks like an absolute rock star. Ronnie wouldn’t need to play an instrument – he could be like Bez from the Happy Mondays. He’d own the stage with his big beaming smile!
‘ The Alchemist’s Euphoria’ by Kasabian is available now on Columbia Records