188: Raymond Wilkins, AC Milan, Panini Calciatori 1986-87

Mat Jolin-Beech has been on his travels again and is once again delving into a more internationally flavoured subject. As a result the 848 professional appearances, 84 England caps and place in the English Football Hall of Fame are somewhat skirted round. Clearly after his trip to the Austrian capital it meant nothing to Mat.

The other week I went all Ultravox and travelled to Austria for a work conference. I finally hit the big time and made it into Europe! And much like Celtic in the Champions League, it was intense but all too brief and I was back home before I knew it. Unlike Celtic, getting there wasn’t smooth sailing. But, after rushing through security following traffic and parking delays at Heathrow, I managed to get to my seat on my Austrian Airlines flight. Now, over some odd looks as I type away furiously in my window seat and munching my free chocolate, I’m thinking about those Brits who have gone abroad and into Europe for work.

Many have been successful. Gary Lineker, David Beckham, Steve McManaman, Gareth Bale, and more recently, Jude Bellingham. Even Michael Owen can be said to have had a good spell abroad before coming home to eventually warm the bench for Stoke City. No, really, just look at his record of games to goal involvements. It’s surprisingly good, especially for someone playing second fiddle to the Brazilian Dean Ashton.

Then there are those who are not as successful. Those who have gone abroad more out of a lack of options, but with the draw of still playing in the Champions League. Much like how Gillingham play in the FA Cup. They’re in it, and may even have a decent run every now and then. But, let’s be honest, they will never win it. Ravel Morrison somehow getting to Lazio, Aaron Ramsay at Nice, and anyone who has gone to Galatasaray or Trabzonspor in recent years.

But then you get those, in the very small minority, who have gone abroad and done alright. Not terrible, but you can’t really say it was a success either. This is where we can look at, well, this is where I stumbled a bit and had to reach out to the other A Sticker’s Worth 500 Words guys. Various names came forward, including, and in no particular order: Brian Deane, Lee Sharpe, Chris Waddle and his Diamond Lights companion Glenn Hoddle, Steve Harkness, Ross Barkley (although he may be more in the failure category) and Des Walker. None of those, for various reasons, including the fact some have already graced the pages of this esteemed blog, have been chosen. The one who was chosen had a five-year stint at Manchester United adorned by the iconic Admiral/Adidas red shirts.

I’ll be honest, I never really followed Ray Wilkins’ career, the excuse of having not been born should suffice to all but the most pedantic, so never really realised where he played. Starting at Chelsea before his United stint, he then swapped the red of Manchester for the iconic red and black of AC Milan.  His stint there wasn’t actually too bad but AC Milan were struggling, with off the pitch scandals impacting the atmosphere. That and a lack of goals from the team. A move to Paris Saint-Germain came and went within only a few months, before he went to Scotland and to Rangers (does that count as abroad?) where he helped the Ibrox outfit win the 1988/89 title. A nomadic career-end then followed, with spells at Queen’s Park Rangers, Wycombe Wanderers, Hibernian, Millwall, and finally, Leyton Orient.

There is a lot more to be said about the man, including his record for England and coaching career, but I’m out of words. Plus would that really fit with just being alright in Europe?