Pearson set for Indian summer
THE medal Stephen Pearson gained on his latest Indian adventure proved beyond the more feted powers of Diego Forlan, Florent Malouda and John Arne Riise.
Little wonder, then, that the 34-year-old reflects fondly on this stint on the sub-continent. Returning to Motherwell as a champion has only heightened his desire for further achievements.
A product of the youth system at Fir Park, Pearson’s second spell at the club came to an end last June when he received an offer from Atletico de Kolkata.
Having already experienced the Indian Super League with Kerala Blasters two years previously, he felt it was too good an opportunity to turn down.
Pearson was far from the most well-known, or well-paid, foreign player to head there last year. He would, however, end up as one of the most successful.
At the end of what is a slightly odd format — the Indian Super League contains a brief regular season and play-offs between October and December — his Kolkata side lifted the trophy in front of more than 54,000 fans.
‘We played Kerala, who were the team I was at in my first year in India,’ reflected Pearson. ‘It was a one-off game at their venue.
‘So all their supporters were there and around 200 of our fans.
‘That obviously made it difficult for us but we won on penalties. Did I get any stick? No, I always had a good relationship with them. I was welcomed back there, which was pleasing.
‘As a player, you want to win trophies. It doesn’t matter where you’re playing, you want to win everything you’re in.
‘So it was great for me personally to get the winner’s medal, but it was also great for the people of Kolkata.
‘They’d won it in the competition’s first year, they got to the semi-finals last year and then won it this season. So they’re having a good spell.
‘We didn’t get an open-top bus but there was a parade back in the city of Kolkata. All the fans were there so it was pleasing to celebrate the occasion with them.’
Importing the likes of former Manchester United striker Forlan has raised the profile of football in India. So, too, has the ownership involvement of cricketing icons in a nation which is obsessed by that sport.
‘Sourav Ganguly owns the club I was at alongside the financial owners,’ said Pearson. ‘Sachin Tendulkar is involved in the club that we played in the final.
‘A lot of the teams there are owned by cricket players, sportsmen or people involved in Bollywood. They all have their input and they help move the clubs forward.
‘The crowds varied depending on who you were playing but the majority of them were decent — from 10,000 up to 50,000. So, attendance-wise, it is good.
‘India is a country where football is growing. They are trying to bring in as much talent as they can to help nurture the Indian players and to get them to know the game.
‘They are going into grassroots levels as well now and they are trying to get the academies up and running. They are certainly going about it in the right way.
‘There are quite a few foreign players out in India now. The main marquee signing was probably Forlan, who played for Mumbai.
‘Each team is allowed one marquee player so they always try and get the best one they can.
‘It wasn’t me at Kolkata! Unfortunately not. Our marquee player was Helder Postiga, the Portuguese striker who was at Spurs.’
A return for a third stint in Lanarkshire could seem a little mundane in comparison to life in India, but Pearson is relishing renewing his emotional affinity with the club.
Mark McGhee’s men face Ian Cathro’s Hearts this lunchtime as they look to build on Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory over Ross County at Dingwall, with Pearson waiting to find out if he will be deemed ready for involvement in the squad.
‘I finished up in India on December 19, so I’ve had quite a bit of time off, six weeks in total,’ said the former Scotland, Celtic and Derby County midfielder, who has signed at Motherwell until the end of the season.
‘I’ve done a few bits and bobs over the January period, but obviously it’s different to training day in, day out with the lads so I’ve still got a bit to catch up on. Hopefully it won’t take me long to get back up to speed.
‘I kept in touch with James McFadden (McGhee’s assistant manager).
‘He was interested in how I was doing out in India and he made it clear that they wanted me back.
‘Even when I left for India in the summer, I went there hoping myself for a return. I’m delighted to be here and hopefully now I can help the club push up the table.’