Error in Casting, Part Five

1- David Platt and Juventus 1992/93

England Captain David Platt arrived at Juventus with high expectations in the summer of 1992. He was expected to shine in a squad containing Roberto Baggio and Gianluca Vialli among others. His first and only season coincided with the implementation  of the rule that clubs could sign as many foreigners as they liked, but only three could play at a given time. Juventus’ other three foreigners: German stopper Jurgen Kohler, Brazilian sweeper Julio Cesar and German midfielder Andreas Moeller were ahead of Platt in the pecking order and as a result his play was limited.

At the end of the season he joined Sampdoria to have more playing time.

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1991

(David Platt at Aston Villa, 1990/91)

2- Richard Witschge and Barcelona 1991/93

Young Dutch midfielder was seen as the bright future of Holland at Ajax. It was inevitable that he would join a big club like Barcelona in 1991. Barcelona Manager Johann Cruyff saw much potential in him having coached him many years before at Ajax.

However, he was also victim of League regulations that allowed four foreigners but only three could play. The three foreign players ahead were more experienced (Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup and Hristo Stoichkov) and naturally played more. After two disappointing seasons, he left to join French club Bordeaux and Brazilian Romario replaced him at Barcelona in 1993.

Photo From: World Soccer, September 1991

(Richard Witschge at Barcelona, 1991/92)

3- Colombian stars at Real Valladolid 1991/92

Spanish club Real Valladolid already had Colombian Leonel Alvarez on their books when they signed eccentric goalkeeper Rene Higuita and Captain Carlos Valderrama in the summer of 1991. They went even further by hiring their National Team Manager Francisco ‘Pacho’ Maturana.

However, the Colombian experiment was a fiasco and the three players were all shipped out by midseason. An isolated Maturana was fired by the end of the season.

Photo From: World Soccer, September 1991

(Carlos Valderrama at Real Valladolid, 1991/92)

Photo From: Soccer International, Issue 4, April 1990

(Rene Higuita)

4- John van Loen and Anderlecht 1990/91

Dutch striker John van Loen was signed from Roda JC Kerkrade in the summer of 1990. He was expected to score many goals, however, he never settled and only managed three goals the entire season.  The emergence of 16 year old Ghanaian revelation Nii Lamptey and the consistency of Luc Nilis blocked his path.

He was relieved to return to the Dutch league and joined Ajax at the end of the season.

Photo From: Foot Magazine, Issue 107, September 1990

(John van Loen at Anderlecht, 1990/91)

5- Georges Leekens and Anderlecht 1987/88

Future Belgium National Team manager Georges Leekens was regarded as a rising Manager at Cercle Brugge when he was appointed as Anderlecht Manager in 1987. He joined a squad hampered by the loss of star Enzo Scifo to the Italian League and injury of Juan Lozano, and seemed out of his depth managing a team of Anderlecht’s standing.

Midway through the season he was sacked and replaced by Raymond Goethals.

Photo From: Le Siecle des Diables Rouges, Author: Christian Hubert

(Georges Leekens as Belgian National Team Manager)