500: Paulo Futre, West Ham United, Merlin’s Premier League 97 Official Sticker Collection

There are lots of things that spring to mind when one thinks of Harry Redknapp. Some might think of his early days at AFC Bournemouth where he saved the club from relegation and led them to a famous FA Cup win over Manchester United. Others might think of the young English stars, like Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, to whom Redknapp gave their first taste of Premier League football. There are also those who will remember the offshore account set up in his dog’s name for a cheeky bit of tax evasion but who cares about that because he won ‘I’m A Celebrity’.

 

For most of us though the immortal image will be of Redknapp leaning out of the window of his car on transfer deadline day having lured Niko Kranjcar and Jermaine Defoe to whatever club he was in charge of at the time. Such was Redknapp’s perceived prowess in the transfer market that many pundits labelled him a wheeler and a dealer. Redknapp wasn’t exactly enamoured with this reputation, so much so that when Sky Sports’ Rob Palmer put this to the man himself he replied with “F*** off. I’ve not made my name as a wheeler and a dealer, don’t say that. I’m a f***ing football manager.” Well that told us.

 

Back in his West Ham days though it would be inaccurate to say that Redknapp’s willingness to give youth a chance was not also supported by some shrewd acquisitions on the transfer market. Despite being in the autumn of their careers the likes of Paolo Di Canio, Stuart Pearce and Trevor Sinclair all etched themselves into Hammers’ folklore under Redknapp’s guidance. However, for every Di Canio wondergoal against Wimbledon there was a Florin Raducioiu, for every John Hartson relegation rescue act there was a John Hartson decapitating Eyal Berkovic with his left boot at the training ground. And then there was Paulo Futre.

Futre arrived at the Boleyn Ground with an impressive CV including a European Cup win with Porto, captaining Atletico Madrid to back-to-back Copa del Rey victories and 41 caps for Portugal. He impressed in pre-season and was set to make his debut away at Arsenal in August 1996. However, when he was presented with his shirt for the game, he was furious. Futre had insisted on a clause in his contract to ensure he was given the no.10 jersey but, upon seeing this handed to long-serving midfielder John Moncur instead, turned on Redknapp saying “No, not f***ing 16! Number 10!” before storming out of Highbury. West Ham lost 2-0.

 

The no.10 jersey comes with a certain level of gravitas owing to some of it’s most famous incumbents. Diego Maradona. Roberto Baggio. Andy Booth. With such greats of the game in mind Futre stuck to his guns and came up with a plan to ensure he would walk out on to the Upton Park pitch with his preferred squad number on his back. Aware of John Moncur’s love of golf, and the location of his own villa on the Algarve, Futre granted his team-mate access to said property in exchange for the hallowed no.10 shirt. Moncur knew when he was onto a good deal and so Futre got his wish.

 

Sadly the magic of Maradona, Baggio and Booth failed to manifest in Paulo Futre and after nine goalless appearances he was on his way back to Atletico Madrid before finishing his career at the exceptionally named Yokohama Flugels with three goals in thirteen appearances in 1998. Worst of all Futre’s early exit from West Ham meant that Moncur didn’t even get his Portuguese golf weekend. However, Futre’s son revealed his pride in his father’s decision to stick to his shirt number principles upon hearing the story back in 2011 so I suppose that’s something. As Futre put it he had shown his son that he wasn’t “the little coward who didn’t stick to his word”. Quite.