Just registered on this site after getting bored of 606 and all its stupid rules, so I thought I'd get stuck right in here with my first thread. I just learned that Marian Pahars is manager of Latvian champions Skonto Riga now. That's mad! Was anyone else aware of this?
Yes he had a spell as assistant manager and has played for them previously! What a legend he was Ohhhhh Marian!!!!
No, I wasn't aware of that. Always good to hear of ex-players doing well, especially such great players as Super Marian (the Japp Stam nutmeg anyone??)
Considering he's only 34 and is managing a team which is guaranteed to win trophies based on their dominance in the league over the past twenty years, coupled with the fact that he probably speaks pretty good English, he could have one hell of a promising career ahead of him surely? And yes, that nutmeg was awesome.
I saw this and to be honest was pretty surprised. I never really thought, when he was playing for us, that he would move into management. He always seemed very quiet and unassuming. Will be very interested to see how he gets on. Hopefully very well and we'll see him manage in the UK. Another ex player who seems to be doing pretty well in management is Dan Petrescu!
Yes, I agree. Petrescu struck me more as the managerial type- a "thinking" kind of player. Shame we never really saw the best of him at Saints, though his opportunities were limited as I recall. Fair to say they are both doing better in management than some former Saints (Iain Dowie springs to mind.....)!
I remember someone calling the Little Latvian "Latvia's Michael Owen". Who'd have thought that in 2011 Pahars would be more successful?
Makes you wonder who will progress into management/coaching from the current squad. I think Super Kelv has got a decent career ahead of him as a goalkeeping coach. I don't think Petrescu got a decent chance to play when he was with us, he impressed under Hoodle then was dropped like a stone by Gray and never really got a look in with WGS. Anyone think of any other recent Saints stepping into management? Isn't Jo Tessem a coach at Totton or somewhere? I hear Chris Marsden is working at Itchen College?
Probably a bit early to judge the potential management qualities for most of the current players, as they are too young in most cases. Many of them seem to have good football brains and be fairly level headed though. I agree with you about Kelv- lots of experience and good communicator, could easily see him as goalie coach or 1st team coach/asst mgr somewhere (maybe Saints?), not sure about him being a manager though.
If you want to go a bit further back, Ivan Katalinic is now doing well in Croatia (that moustache is not easily forgotten!!)
Welcome to all you new comers......... Champ kind:sports...... Joesteinberg........ names I do not recognise.......We look for to your contributions. Enjoy the board guys remember it is self moderated our moderator is Kingsland SFC. So any problems pm him.
For those of you who want to relive his glorious goal against Pompey : LatviasMichaelOwen's channel with some fantastic highlights of memorable games over the years: http://www.youtube.com/user/LatviasMichaelOwen
The double against Everton was his greatest moment, unfortunatly means nothing now due to the sacks of **** who lacked the spirit under bagpuss.
I think you'll find that Michael Owen was England's Marian Pahars, not the other way round. The story I remember was that Saints were twice refused a work permit for Pahars. Their final appeal said that he had played more internationals than Ryan Giggs and had scored more international goals than Ryan Giggs. Would they refuse Ryan Giggs a work permit? He became a Saint soon after.
