Short International Careers, Part Nineteen

1- Paul Walsh

English forward Paul Walsh had a good spell at Luton (1982/84) and was rewarded with five caps in this period. He never seemed likely as a long term option despite a transfer to Liverpool in 1984.

                                       Photo From: 90 minutes, March 26, 1994

(Paul Walsh)

2- Jean-François De Sart

Belgian defender Jean-François De Sart had a long spell at RFC Liege in the 1980s into the early 1990s.

He earned three caps in 1989 at a time when Liege had qualified for the UEFA Cup. 

                               Photo From: Foot Magazine, Issue 24, May 1983

(Jean-François De Sart)

3- Wolfgang Funkel

German defender Wolfgang Funkel was a mainstay of the Bayer Uerdingen side of the 1980s along with his brother Friedhelm. Wolfgang Funkel would be rewarded with two caps in 1986 but failed to make the final cut for the 1986 World Cup. He did however, participate in the 1988 Olympics.

                 Photo From: Fussball Magazin, Issue 1, January February 1985

(Wolfgang Funkel with Uerdingen Manager Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and brother Friedhelm Funkel)

4- Tomas Locatelli

Tomas Locatelli was a promising young Italian midfielder and was signed by AC Milan in 1995. He had his best spell at Udinese (1997/2000) and earned two caps in 1999/2000 span.

                          Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 21, July 1999

(Tomas Locatelli)

5- Stepehn Wright

Scottish right back Stephen Wright was part of Aberdeen squad of the early 1990s. He would earn two caps for Scotland in 1993 but no more, despite a transfer to the mighty Rangers Glasgow in 1995.

 

                                        Photo From: Shoot, June 15, 1991

(Stephen Wright)

Transfers that did not happen, Part Seventeen

1- In the summer of 1989, Ascoli (and former Italy and Napoli) striker Bruno Giordano was set to join Torino in the Serie B.

However, On September 30, 1989, the deal was called off as Manager Gigi Radice and some of the Torino players protested. Giordano joined Bologna instead.

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 27, February 2000

(Bruno Giordano at Lazio)

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 39, March 2001

(Gigi Radice and Torino defender Nello Santin)

2-In the summer of 1983, French and Saint Etienne defender Patrick Battiston had an offer to join Swiss club Lausanne. He was also close to joining Paris St. Germain and it seemed like a done deal.

However, he felt the PSG hierarchy were hesitant towards him and joined Bordeaux instead.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 92, August 1983

(Patrick Battiston upon joining Bordeaux, summer 1983)

3- In August 1969, English striker Gerry Hitchens wanted to join Aston Villa. However, his Italian club Cagliari refused as they wanted (60 Million Lira).

Photo From: Goal, Issue 28, January 1998

(Gerry Hitchens at Internazionale Milano)

4- Romania and Red Star Belgrade Libero Miodrag Beloidedic was set to join Sampdoria in the summer of 1992.

However, the deal did not materialize and he joined Valencia.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, Issue 850  (Number 25),  June 19-25, 1991

(Miodrag Beloidedic with a Sampdoria jersey that he never got to wear)

5- In the summer of 1985, Aston Villa Manager Graham Turner wanted to exchange Liverpool’s Paul Walsh with Steve Mc Mahon and £400,000.

Liverpool Player-Manager Kenny Dalglish refused the offer.

Weeks later, Dalglish signed McMahon outright without Walsh in the mix (he was his first signing as Liverpool Manager). 

Photo From: Goal, Issue 20, May 1997

(Steve McMahon)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 62, May 1985

(Paul Walsh, April 24, 1985, Champions Cup, Panathinaikos 0-Liverpool 1)

Photo From: Goal, Issue 20, May 1997

(Kenny Dalglish)