Error in Casting, Part Six

1- Duncan Ferguson and Rangers Glasgow 1993/94

Duncan Ferguson was a Scottish striker on the rise at Dundee United when he joined big spending giants Rangers Glasgow in the summer of 1993. However, strike partners Ally McCoist and Mark Hateley restricted his appearances, not to mention off the field problems.

He was relieved when Everton signed him in October 1994 (first on loan and then permanent) and he responded with many key goals that led to FA Cup glory at the end of the season.

Photo From: Planete Foot, April 1996

(Duncan Ferguson at Everton)

2- Brian Laudrup and AC Milan 1993/94

Danish midfielder joined AC Milan in the summer of 1993 after Fiorentina had been relegated. However, due to foreign player restrictions, he only made a few appearances, as Zvonimir Boban, Dejan Savicevic and Marcel Desailly were the starting foreigners, not to mention Jean-Pierre Papin. He gladly transferred to Rangers Glasgow in the summer of 1994 and enjoyed his time there.

Photo From: World Soccer, September 1993

(Brian Laudrup being presented as an AC Milan player with Manager Fabio Capello)

3- Pedrag Spasic and Real Madrid 1990/91

Yugoslav defender Pedrag Spasic joined Real Madrid in the summer of 1990 to replace the departing Argentine Oscar Ruggeri. He, like the rest of his teammates had a nightmarish season and never seemed to settle. He was transferred out to Osasuna at the end of the season.

Photo From: World Soccer, October 1990

(Pedrag Spasic at Real Madrid, 1990/91)

4- Marino Magrin and Juventus 1987/89

Italian midfielder Marino Magrin joined Juventus in the summer of 1987 after many solid seasons at Atalanta. He was there to replace the retiring Michel Platini. In two seasons there, he was never able to make his mark, as he like the rest of the team went into a decline.

In the summer of 1989, he joined Verona.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, June 20-26, 1984

(Marino Margin at Atalanta, 1983/84)

5- Hendrie Kruzen and PSV Eindhoven 1988/89

Dutch midfielder seemed to have a promising future when PSV Eindhoven signed him in the summer of 1988 from Den Bosch. He was part of the victorious 1988 UEFA European Championship winning squad and appeared to have a chance in the national team midfield following Arnold Muhren’s retirement. However, he was unable to break into the PSV squad and after just a few appearances he was loaned back to his previous club Den Bosch and was transferred outright thereafter.

Photo From: Het Nederlands Elftal, De Histoire van Oranje, 1905-1989

(Hendrie Kruzen, May 24, 1988, Holland 1-Bulgaria 2)

Trivia and Facts-Part 29

1-During Brazil and Zaire match of the 1974 World Cup, a comical incident occurred.

Brazil were about to take a free kick and all of a sudden Zaire defender Mwepu Ilunga ran from the defensive wall and kicked the ball away.

He was booked for this funny incident.

Photo from : Calcio 2000, November 1999

(Roberto Rivellino, June 22, 1974, World Cup, Brazil 3-Zaire 0)

2-Benfica’s Fernando Chalana revealed that upon joining Benfica in 1983, Swedish teammate Glenn Stromberg was so intent on wearing the number 10 jersey, that he even offered Chalana money for it.

Photo from: World Soccer, April 1992

(Glenn Stromberg with Atalanta, 1991/92)

Photo from : Onze, Issue 65, May 1981

(Fernando Chalana in action for Benfica, 1980/81)

3-During the 1987/88 season, Rangers Glasgow’s danish Player Jan Bartram in an interview with danish media, alleged that Manager Graeme Souness had encouraged his players to tackle the opposition players and injure them.

He later backtracked and claimed he had been misquoted in a joint interview with Souness himself.

The danish press maintained their version, however, some acknowledged that they understood Bartram’s reversal because his job and future may have been threatened.

 

(Graeme Souness after being sent off in his debut as player-manager in the opening match of the 1986/87 scottish season, August 9, 1986, Hibernian 2-Rangers Glasgow 1)

4-Yugoalvian defender Pedrag Spasic signed with Real Madrid in the summer of 1990.

A Real Madrid official declared that Spasic was almost not signed because due to his premature baldness, they thought he was an older player.

But once they found out he was in his 20s, they signed him.

Photo from: World Soccer, October 1990

(Pedrag Spasic with Real Madrid, 1990/91)

5-Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff was dropped by Manager Guy Thys in the second round of the 1982 World Cup Finals.

The official reason given was because of Pfaff ‘s alleged indiscipline and ‘childish behavior’ in pretending to drown in the hotel swimming pool.

During a team get together with the media at their hotel, a radio commentator pushed Pfaff in the pool as a prank, whereby he panicked as apparently he couldn’t swim.

In Belgium’s next match vs. Hunagry, he accidentally struck teammate Eric Gerets while coming out for a cross.

An ambulance had to be called for Gerets. The ambulance arrived after the match, however, Pfaff got in there first because of an alleged shoulder injury, so Gerets stayed behind in anger with the rest of the squad.

The shoulder injury turned out to be very minor.

This incident forced Thys to drop Pfaff for the remainder of the World Cup. 

Photo from: Fussball Magazin, January February 1984

(Jean-Marie Pfaff with Bayern Munich)