AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO...
1. THE RETURN OF F1
I’VE got March 20 circled in my diary already for the start of the new Formula One season in Bahrain. Football will always be my first love but I am absolutely obsessed with motor racing and I cannot wait to see how the rivalries develop between Sir Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. If circumstances allow, I’m hoping to get to a couple of European races.
2. A WINTER WORLD CUP
FOR all the complaints people are making about the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations, what will they say in November when club football shuts down and everyone goes to Qatar? I’m intrigued by all this. How are national managers supposed to prepare with such a short window? What will the impact be on those players who suffer heartbreaking defeats in Qatar when they return to their clubs? It’s going to be different to anything we have seen before. Let’s hope it will be worth it.
3. THE SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW
THE money involved in football now means we are seeing deals that have figures like you would see when players are traded in baseball or basketball. The business from June onwards has the potential to significantly change teams. What is Erling Haaland’s next move? Who will Kylian Mbappe join on a free? And is this the moment Harry Kane will finally leave Tottenham? Whichever teams land those three strikers, their fortunes will change dramatically.
4. WATCHING THE NEW MANAGERS DEVELOP
I WAS fortunate to play in an era with Patrick Vieira, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney — all four, at varying stages, were my team-mates — and I knew they all had what it took to be managers. Patrick has made a fine start to life at Crystal Palace; Steven will thrive at Aston Villa after his success with Rangers and Wayne is doing an incredible job at
Derby from a seemingly impossible situation. I’m looking forward to seeing where Frank’s next opportunity arrives. Let’s not forget he was the man who got Chelsea into the Champions League when they were unable to buy players.
5. TRAVEL
I WENT to Abu Dhabi before Christmas for the Grand Prix and it was my first time outside England since the pandemic began. It reminded me what a joy it is to travel. Fingers crossed 2022 sees more of those exciting opportunities come our way and we can broaden our horizons.