MARK HUGHES

STRIKER CAPS 72 1984-1999 GOALS 16

LESLIE Mark Hughes, AKA Sparky, was one of a kind.

Gentle, thoughtful, quiet off the field, yet role reversal on the pitch as he went toe-to-toe with the toughest defenders on the planet in utterly fearless fashion, refusing to take a backward step and indeed often initiating any hurly burly himself by knocking them about in the first place.

What a player though, an absolute lion for club and country who could mix physical power with skill and stunning shooting power in either foot.

Was destined for stardom the moment he scored just 17 minutes into his Wales debut, the winner against England in the last Home International Championship meeting between the old rivals.

Played 72 times in total for Wales, often put into midfield such was the plethora of strikers available. He never moaned, though, just played there as expertly as he did as a forward.

Perhaps he should have scored more than the 16 goals he managed for Wales. Perhaps had he played in the crunch 1993 qualifier with Romania, for which he was suspended, the World Cup jinx would have been broken back then.

But these are ifs and buts. What is beyond doubt is Sparky’s rightful position in Welsh football folklore, for deeds achieved as a player and manager.

The team under his charge came within a play-off of reaching Euro 2004, only to lose to Russia in the Millennium Stadium having done the hard work by drawing the first leg out in Moscow. Hughes got his team selection wrong that night, but he got little wrong as a player. With Sparky sitting there in the dressing room next to them, his Welsh team-mates always believed they had a chance of winning, whoever the opposition.

Played almost 400 times for Manchester United, also starred for Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, at the age of 59 he’s gone back into management these days, albeit having dropped down the leagues to boss Bradford City.