Players
and managers who were supposed to be finished, but a transfer or other
circumstances gave them a new lease on life
1- Ruud
Gullit and Sampdoria, 1993
Ruud
Gullit had endured an unhappy season at AC Milan (1992/93), where he had been
mostly benched because of new foreign player restrictions that had allowed
teams to sign as many foreigners, but only three could be on the field.
He
had to compete with Papin, Savicevic and Boban to play alongside van Basten and
Rijkaard.
During
the season he even retired from the National team. He was considered finished
and past his best when he joined Sampdoria managed by Sven-Goran Eriksson.
However,
this move resurrected his career and was one of the best players of the season
and scored many goals.
At
the end of the season he returned to AC Milan, but then again returned to
Sampdoria midway through the season.
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, February 1994
(Ruud Gullit, October 24, 1993, Torino
2-Sampdoria 3) |
2- Paul
Breitner and West Germany 1981
Paul
Breitner had not played for West Germany since 1975 after being omitted for a
qualifier vs. Bulgaria in November.
He
had been playing for Real Madrid and after a number of years he had returned to
the Bundeliga via Eintracht Braunschweig and Bayern Munich.
In
his second stint at Bayern, now a midfielder, he had forned a lethal
partnership with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
In
1981, West German Manager Jupp Derwall recalled Breitner to the national team
and just like Bayern, he and Rummenigge became the undisputed leaders of the
team.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 38, February 1979
(Paul Breitner at Bayern Munich, 1978/79) |
3- Giuseppe
Bergomi and Italy 1998
Following
the exit of Azeglio Vicini in late 1991, Inter defender Giuseppe Bergomi was
not called up by successor Arrigo Sacchi and his national team career seemed to
be over.
However,
during the 1997/98 season, he was impressive to such a point that Cesare
Maldini included him for the 1998 World Cup at the age of 34.
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 16, February 1999
(Giuseppe
Bergomi with Internazionale Milano)
|
4- Peter
Beardsley and Newcastle United, 1993
After
Graham Taylor was appointed England, Manager Liverpool’s Peter Beardsley played
a handful of matches and was not called up again. His Liverpool days were also
over after Graeme Souness took charge. He was out of the limelight for a few
years while playing for Everton.
However,
in the summer of 1993, he rejoined his former club Newcastle United who had
just been promoted with Kevin Keegan at the helm. He formed a very good
partnership with striker Andy Cole and both scored many goals. When Terry
Venables took over as England Manager, there was much public clamor for his
recall. He was recalled for Venables’ first match in charge (March 9, 1994,
England 1-Denmark 0) and stayed in the England set up for the next couple of
years.
 |
Photo
From: Goal, October 1996
(Peter Beardsley celebrating a goal with Les
Ferdinand in his successful second stint at Newcastle) |
5- Miguel
Tendillo and Real Madrid, 1987
Spanish
defender Miguel Tendillo had been out of the national team set up since the end
of the 1982 World Cup when Miguel Munoz took over.
The prospects looked even bleaker in 1986 when
his club Valencia were relegated. He joined Real Murcia for one season only and
then joined giants Real Madrid in 1987. Even then, not many could have
predicted he would be a success. However, he was able to earn his way back to
the national team and he played a few matches in 1988. He stayed at Real Madrid
until 1992. |
Photo
From: Mondial, New series, issue 11, February 1981
(Miguel
Tendillo with Valencia in Cup Winners Cup matches vs. AS Monaco in Fall 1980)
|
