Survivor Pascali is targeting a Killie testimonial
MANUEL PASCALI was surprised — and not a little taken aback — to discover, when he reported back for pre-season training last week, that he was Kilmarnock’s longestserving player.
The Italian has been a fixture in the first team since then manager Jim Jefferies signed him from Parma in 2008 and now he has set his sights on becoming the first Italian player to earn a testimonial in Scotland. At 32, that’s just about achievable but his main priority is helping Killie to claim a top-six finish for the first time since 2011.
Such is the turnaround in the modern game, Pascali is the sole survivor from that campaign.
‘We have lost Garry Hay and James Fowler in the last year, so I am the last man standing,’ he said. ‘I started thinking about who the next longest-serving player after me will be and it’s Rory McKenzie — he’s only 20. That’s crazy.
‘Jamie Hamill came back after leaving for Hearts in 2011 and I am the only senior player left here.
‘However, if I was seeing the same old faces every year then it might get boring — the changes bring a freshness and I believe we have a bright future.
‘Maybe I could end up getting a testimonial from Killie! This is my seventh season and my contract is up at the end of it.
‘I must speak with the gaffer and ask him if I can sign for another three years. I feel great and I love being here, so we will see how this campaign goes.
‘What happened last time was disappointing, so we need to do something to cheer the place up again.
‘I think it will help that we will be based in the town again after training in Glasgow for so long.
‘Now we will be at the stadium on the artificial surface every day and eat together at the Park Hotel.
‘Between that and the magnificent new training facilities at Kilwinning, we have become much more professional — it reminds me of what it is like at the best Italian clubs.
‘Our players now have everything they need so there are no excuses.’