Lallana’s derby blow for Klopp
If you thought Jermain Defoe was a veteran, how about 41-year-old Wizard of the Dribble Sir Stanley Matthews?
LIVERPOOL’S hopes for the Merseyside derby have taken a huge knock after Adam Lallana was ruled out by an injury picked up playing for England. Footage emerged last night of Lallana rubbing his left thigh in discomfort after the first half of the 2-0 win against Lithuania on Sunday, but he saw out the full 90 minutes. The injury grew steadily worse over the following 24 hours and he could be sidelined for four weeks. There is no hope of the 28-year-old playing in the clashes against Everton on Saturday, at home to Bournemouth next Wednesday and away to Stoke three days later. It is galling for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as it is the second time Lallana has returned injured from England duty this season — in November he hurt his groin in a 2-2 draw with Spain.
Jermain Defoe might be rejuvenated by his ice chamber and kale and spinach smoothies, but he still has ground to make up on english football’s original age-defying superstar.
Sir Stanley matthews was more than seven years older than Defoe when he knocked in his last england goal in a 1-1 draw against northern ireland in Belfast in 1956. But, just like 34-year-old Defoe — who has cut out chocolate and restricted his caffeine intake — there was more to this extended career than freakish good fortune.
matthews was totally dedicated to his profession. He adopted a strict personal diet and fitness regime, fasting on mondays, when he visited Turkish baths and rested his body. He ate steak and vegetables, but gave up red meat in his later career. He ate only the crusts of bread rolls, discarding the doughy centres, drank carrot juice and took vitamins.
His day began with an early run and, when he played at Blackpool and owned the romford Hotel in South Shore, he ran on the beach.
He would arrive for training having already done his fitness work and ask to play five-a-side, although others were less keen because they couldn’t get the ball from him.
Three days a week, he would take a six-mile afternoon walk and, once a week, a seawater bath and massage at Lytham St annes.
Before games, he went out walking in heavy boots before changing five minutes before kick- off into lighter and softer leather football boots made by the Co-op.
‘He was ahead of his time by miles,’ said commentator nigel Johnson, the voice of Stoke City, who became close to matthews during his 50 years of service on BBC radio Stoke. ‘He was totally professional, with such attention to detail, and extremely fit in an era when the pitches were energy-sapping mudbaths.
‘as a man, he was a gentleman. as a player, he was a genius. i interviewed Tom finney who said he’d never seen anybody do what Stan could do with a football.
‘George Best was magnificent and matthews was in the same bracket. The one player i see today with that skill and the potential to excite the crowd when he gets on the ball is eden Hazard.’
The Second World War cost matthews six years in the prime of his career. He played wartime football, guesting for different teams and working on his fitness.
He served in the raf, based at Blackpool, and moved to Bloomfield road in 1947 for a transfer fee of £11,500 at the age of 32. in the first post-War season, the last of his first spell at Stoke, they finished fourth, only two points behind champions Liverpool.
But for his thinning hair, his defiance of the ageing process was miraculous. at 33, he won the inaugural FWA footballer of the Year award and, at 38, the fa Cup.
at 40, arsenal tried to sign him. at 41, he helped Blackpool finish second and beat alfredo Di Stefano of european champions real madrid to win the inaugural Ballon d’or, which was then awarded to the best european footballer.
at 42, he won his 54th and final international cap 23 years after a goalscoring debut against Wales.
at 46, he returned to Stoke as they languished in the second tier. more than 35,000 turned up to see his first game back, a three-fold increase on the last home crowd.
no one was more thrilled by this emotional homecoming than Don ratcliffe, a left winger who had been handed a miserly crowd-related bonus rather than a payrise at the start of the season.
ratcliffe had been unimpressed to learn he would receive an extra pound for every 5,000 over a crowd of 8,000. But matthews was signed for £3,500 in october and by the end of the season, Stoke boss Tony Waddington was trying unsuccessfully to renegotiate the contract.
When his teams played away, matthews would routinely put another 10,000 on the gate. fathers would lift their sons on to their shoulders and instruct them to keep their eyes on the no 7.
even at the Victoria Ground, Stoke’s home for 119 years, boos would filter into the home dressing room if his name was missing when the teams were announced.
at 48, matthews led Stoke to promotion as champions and won footballer of the Year again.
‘There is one very memorable goal, against Luton,’ said Johnson, who is also chairman of the Sir Stanley matthews foundation, dedicated to creating sporting opportunities for children. ‘He got the ball and went off on a diagonal run leaving three or four players prone behind him as he did, like a trail of destruction in his wake.
‘People were mesmerised by how he moved the ball and his body swerve. He would always have two or three marking him, but his feet were so quick and his burst of speed would leave them for dead.
‘ron Baynham was in goal for Luton and Stan just glided past him and rolled the ball in. That was 2-0 and promotion was sealed. The roar split the heavens.’
matthews was born in the Potteries, started and finished his career at his home-town club and died there at the age of 85, in 2000.
By the time of his final game, five days after his 50th birthday, he had been knighted.
full backs were unsure whether to tackle or salute, and his place in the hearts of fans was secure.
When Blackpool won 4- 0 at Charlton in february 1957, the packed terraces of the Valley greeted the visiting team on the pitch with a chorus of ‘Happy birthday dear Stanley’. He was 42 years old and Jimmy armfield said it was the only time he saw his team-mate with a tear in his eye.
Defoe is unlikely to reach these extremes of public affection but with the heroics in front of goal and his touching relationship with terminally ill five-year-old Bradley Lowery, he is the feel-good story of english football. if he scores against Lithuania in october, the day after his 35th birthday, it might be time for a communal sing-song and a slice of vegan carrot cake.