{"id":295983,"date":"2023-11-22T23:39:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T23:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=295983"},"modified":"2023-11-22T23:39:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T23:39:13","slug":"steve-coppell-opens-up-on-his-rollercoaster-ride-at-man-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/steve-coppell-opens-up-on-his-rollercoaster-ride-at-man-united\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Coppell opens up on his rollercoaster ride at Man United"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>EXCLUSIVE: Steve Coppell opens up on his rollercoaster ride at Man United, a devastating injury\u2026 and what he learned from Sachin Tendulkar!<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Man United legend Steve Coppell found success both on and off the pitch\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>He reflected on his time at United as well as a brief managerial stint in India<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Everton players will be fed up with the owners \u2013 listen to It&#8217;s All Kicking Off\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As Manchester United paid tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton at Old Trafford before their derby against City, Steve Coppell was watching Brighton.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I sat with David Kemp. We realised we must\u2019ve been the only people inside the Amex who\u2019d actually played against Bobby, when he was finishing his career at Preston,\u2019 smiled Coppell.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Dave said he\u2019d nutmegged the great man. I couldn\u2019t claim that, but I did face him for Tranmere and he trained with us at United after he\u2019d retired. I was in awe of him, he\u2019d demand high standards.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Occasionally one of the lads, not at his level, might mutter, \u201cI thought he\u2019d finished playing!\u201d You could tell the huge respect everyone had from the moment he walked in.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Coppell has many good tales, as you would expect from a fine career spanning 50 years. He hit the big time midway through taking an economics degree, won the FA Cup with United and played at a World Cup for England.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/22\/20\/78126649-12781317-image-a-6_1700683711562.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Former Manchester United star Steve Coppell has reflected on his time with the Red Devils<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/22\/20\/78126679-12781317-image-a-13_1700683778666.jpg\" height=\"427\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Coppell made 322 appearances for Manchester United during an eight-year stint at the club<\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n<p>When injury ended his playing days at 28, he became a manager and gave Ian Wright and Gareth Southgate their professional debuts at Crystal Palace. Even the more recent years have been sprinkled with stardust.<\/p>\n<p>One job took him to Kerala Blasters in India, founded by cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar. Now 68, Coppell remains bright and unassuming, with a ready wit that is a product of his upbringing in Rainhill, just outside Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p>He was always slightly different and still cannot work out why he chose to start out at Tranmere as an amateur, rather than get paid. Even when the chance to join United came in 1975, he was not sure.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I chatted to my dad and he told me firmly that you don\u2019t turn down a club like Manchester United,\u2019 recalls Coppell. \u2018My issue was I wanted to complete my degree at Liverpool University. Fortunately for me, United were then managed by Tommy Docherty.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018His exact words were, \u201cFootball will chew you up and spit you out. A degree is for life. We\u2019ll work around it\u201d. I was able to do both thanks to Doc, a special person in my career.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It all happened so fast. I didn\u2019t have any boots for my United debut, I had to borrow a pair from Stuart Pearson. I set him up for a goal and we won 4-0.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>United won promotion back to the First Division in his first season, reached the FA Cup final in his second and lifted the trophy against Liverpool in 1977, Coppell helping deny his boyhood heroes the Treble.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We trained to play at a million miles an hour,\u2019 he describes. \u2018We squeezed up the pitch, won the ball high and my job as a winger was to get the crosses in. They call it a full press now, but we were doing it then.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/22\/20\/78126675-12781317-image-a-15_1700683997425.jpg\" height=\"421\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The now 68-year-old admitted he &#8216;didn\u2019t have any boots&#8217; for his United debut back in 1975<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/22\/20\/78126663-12781317-image-a-14_1700683984043.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>He went on to win an FA Cup and an FA Charity Shield during his stint with the Red Devils<\/p>\n<p>Between 1977 and 1981, Coppell played 206 consecutive league games for United, a club record.<\/p>\n<p>For someone blessed with natural fitness, it was cruel irony that a terrible kick on his knee playing for England against Hungary in 1981 should ultimately finish his career prematurely.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It turned out to be a snapped cruciate, but we didn\u2019t know at the time,\u2019 Coppell said. \u2018I remember driving back to Manchester after the game. My leg was killing me.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I carried on playing. Something wasn\u2019t right, but I didn\u2019t want surgery because it would cost me a place at the 1982 World Cup. I went to the tournament and did well but before the last game against Spain, the knee swelled up.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I took an injection the night before so I could play and there was a reaction, I started sweating and vomiting. The manager, Ron Greenwood, a caring man, said he wouldn\u2019t put me out there.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I had three operations, I played occasionally but it wasn\u2019t fixed. In October 1983, I had to accept it was the end. I remember being on the phone to my room-mate Ray Wilkins crying my eyes out.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Coppell toyed with becoming an economics teacher, but during a three-month stint in Amsterdam for rehab, found himself keeping up with the football news. It was clear the itch was still there and he jumped at the chance to become Crystal Palace boss in June 1984. \u2018It took five years for us to be promoted into the First Division. A manager wouldn\u2019t get that time nowadays,\u2019 he reflects.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019m hugely proud we went on to reach an FA Cup final and finish third in the First Division and proud to see what some of those players have done since.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/22\/20\/78126673-12781317-image-a-16_1700684018194.jpg\" height=\"427\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>A kick to his knee, while playing for England against Hungary in 1981, ultimately ended his career prematurely. Coppell is pictured getting away from Scotland&#8217;s Kenny Dalglish (right)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/22\/20\/78126901-12781317-image-a-17_1700684055373.jpg\" height=\"421\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>He jumped at the chance to become Crystal Palace boss in June 1984 after his retirement<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019m sure Ian Wright wouldn\u2019t mind me saying he could barely finish a sentence without swearing when he first arrived. Now he\u2019s got an OBE and is in huge demand on television. I\u2019m thrilled \u2014 he\u2019s used his opportunities brilliantly.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018When I thought about which players would become managers, Alan Pardew was top, he was already running a Sunday League side, and Gareth near the bottom. I thought he was too sensible.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018What he\u2019s done with England is outstanding. I can\u2019t think of anyone who could do that job better in representing the FA and the country. It shows having football common sense on top of overall common sense goes a long way.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Palace\u2019s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United in the 1990 FA Cup final replay proved historic in giving an under-pressure Alex Ferguson his first major trophy in England.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We\u2019d beaten United 2-1 at Old Trafford,\u2019 explains Coppell. \u2018Fergie was normally a good host after matches, but this time was different. Not much was said, he kept staring down at the carpet.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I thought he was a dead man walking. A month later, Mark Robins scored that FA Cup third round winner at Nottingham Forest and the rest is history.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Coppell left in 1996, although he returned for two other spells and also managed Manchester City, Brentford, Brighton, Reading and Bristol City, as well as having director of football roles at Portsmouth and Crawley.<\/p>\n<p>Then, in 2016, he took over at Kerala in India, the first of three clubs he managed on the Subcontinent.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/22\/20\/78126999-12781317-image-a-19_1700684188926.jpg\" height=\"453\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Coppell has since had stints with teams such as Brighton, Brentford, Reading and Bristol City<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/22\/20\/78126961-12781317-image-a-18_1700684144608.jpg\" height=\"464\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>He also reflected upon his time at Kerala Blasters, which is owned by Sachin Tendulkar (right)<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I was bored going up and down the same motorways,\u2019 he said. \u2018I\u2019d heard Peter Reid had gone out to India, so I thought, \u201cWhy not?\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It was fantastic to experience a whole new way of life. Tendulkar was mobbed everywhere.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He was mild-mannered and charming but you were still aware of his influence. I wanted to send a couple of players home for disciplinary reasons. Sachin asked if he could deal with it. He met the players and there was no repeat!\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Coppell still loves attending games, even at the club nearest his home, Chipstead of the Isthmian League South-Central.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I went to see them play Guernsey. I was intrigued that there were 30 or 40 away fans from the island,\u2019 he said. \u2018After the match, Guernsey\u2019s players went over, not just to give them a clap but to stop and have a chat. It\u2019s the connection football brings that I really love.\u2019<\/p>\n<h3>IT&#8217;S ALL KICKING OFF!\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p><span>It&#8217;s All Kicking Off\u00a0is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/02\/636x90_facebook_ad_sport.png\" width=\"636\" height=\"90\"><br \/>\nSource: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/football\/article-12781317\/Steve-Coppell-opens-rollercoaster-ride-Man-United-devastating-injury-learned-Sachin-Tendulkar.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>EXCLUSIVE: Steve Coppell opens up on his rollercoaster ride at Man United, a devastating injury\u2026 and what he learned from Sachin Tendulkar! Man United legend <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/steve-coppell-opens-up-on-his-rollercoaster-ride-at-man-united\/\" title=\"Steve Coppell opens up on his rollercoaster ride at Man United\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":295982,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Steve Coppell opens up on his rollercoaster ride at Man United - Sportstoft<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/steve-coppell-opens-up-on-his-rollercoaster-ride-at-man-united\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Steve Coppell opens up on his rollercoaster ride at Man United - Sportstoft\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"EXCLUSIVE: Steve Coppell opens up on his rollercoaster ride at Man United, a devastating injury\u2026 and what he learned from Sachin Tendulkar! 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