An interview with Chris Sutton, by Callum McFadden for WFi.
You left your hometown club Norwich City in 1994 for Blackburn Rovers. You went on to win the Premier League at Blackburn in your first season under Kenny Dalglish. What are your memories of your success at Ewood Park and from your partnership upfront with Alan Shearer?
“Yeah, I have got great memories of my time at Blackburn. I had five really good years there, but, you know, 94-95 was special.
“It was my first season. I had moved from Norwich for a British record transfer at the time, and Blackburn the previous season were the team who really pushed Manchester United. Jack Walker, the owner, was a local businessman from Blackburn. He put his money into the club, built a new stadium, and wanted his team to win something.
“Thankfully, we were able to have a fantastic season and get over the line to win the Premier League, as we did on the last day of what was the last of the 42-game seasons. To win such an honour with a club like Blackburn was such a remarkable achievement because of Manchester United and the strength of their team and the way that they went on to dominate the Premier League after that.
“In terms of playing with Alan Shearer, it was fantastic as it felt like he did not miss an opportunity that season, but you know it is a team game, and we were a streetwise team. I mean, you would not say that we were the prettiest winners of a Premier League title, but we were a smart team who made the most of what we had. We knew what our strengths were.
“We had two great wingers in Ripley and Wilcox. Tim Sherwood was a good central midfielder. Mark Atkins played alongside him and scored some important goals. Tim Flowers in goal was excellent. Henning Berg at right back. Colin Hendry and Tony Gale — an ageing Tony Gale too — who came on a free from West Ham. Graeme Le Saux at left-back, who was a superb full-back. He could get forward and his delivery was excellent as well. So, you know, it was a strong team.
“Of course, we also had a brilliant manager in Kenny Dalglish. Our players used to pay massive attention to him and the detailed coaching from his assistant Ray Harford. We started the season absolutely flying and then we blew up a little bit towards the end of the season. But to get over the line, as we did, that was important. You just have to look at the situation the club is in now and it just shows how far the club has gone downhill, but I only have great memories of my time there.”
You joined Celtic in the summer of 2000 after a tough spell with Chelsea. Martin O’Neill was the manager who signed you and when I interviewed him, he told me that you were the most important signing during his time at Celtic. How do you reflect on your time playing in Glasgow?
“I loved playing under Martin. He was a similar manager to Kenny Dalglish, really. When he spoke, the players listened. You know, it is kind of Martin to say that. I do not know whether he had a glass of wine or two before he said that to you because he is normally quite nasty about me (laughs) – he is not really. He is a good guy, and I owe him a lot because he took me up north from Chelsea where I had not had a particularly enjoyable time.
“I have always admired Martin. I used to support Nottingham Forest as a young boy, so he was one of my favourite players, along with John Robertson, of course, his assistant. Martin took me up to Celtic, and I loved every minute of it. I was lucky to join a good team and play alongside the likes of Henrik Larsson.
“I think Celtic fans possibly look at the period under Martin O’Neill as a building block to where they are now. They are absolutely flying. We were a formidable team back then and went toe to toe with anyone that we faced. My five years there under Martin were really successful and enjoyable. I absolutely loved it, not just playing with Larsson, who like Shearer was a footballing god, but also with the likes of Moravcik, Lambert, Lennon, and Mjällby.
“He always had an eye for a bargain. Think of Didier Agathe, who was a 50-grand signing from Hibs. He played as a centre-forward prior to joining Celtic, and Martin moulded him into a brilliant right wing-back. He never gave Ronaldinho a kick when he came to Celtic Park and played well in the Champions League games.
“My memories of Celtic are permanently at the forefront of my mind, and those big European nights were really special. I loved my time there and playing under Martin.”
What would you pick out as a personal highlight from your time at the club?
“The big European nights stand out, but I have to pick out my first game against Rangers when we won 6-2—the demolition derby. That would stand out just for the importance of that being so early in the season. Martin had gone in, and I think we had won every game, and Rangers had won every game.
“The truth is, you go into these derby games, and you’re not quite sure what’s going to happen. But Martin had galvanised the club, and there was that belief within the fan base, the staff, the stadium, and the players. However, you must prove it on the pitch. That win was really important.
“I do not know how old you were back then, Callum, but in that particular season, Martin was very good at keeping the pressure off us. Rangers had won the league by 21 points the previous season, but Martin was always referring to Rangers as the benchmark. They beat us 5-1 in November in the return game at Ibrox, so we still had work to do, but we ended up winning the league pretty comfortably. It was a good Rangers team, and that was the season in which we won the treble, which was a huge deal. Things could not have gone any better that first season.
“Then, there was the progression in Europe, which I think was really important. In 2003, we got to the UEFA Cup final in Seville. It was a big deal, and it is just a pity that we could not get over the line, but overall, I look back on my period at Celtic with great pride.”
You formed great partnerships upfront with Henrik Larsson and Alan Shearer. How would you compare them?
“Henrik and Alan were both phenomenal goal scorers. Alan was an out-and-out number nine. As I said, in his first season at Blackburn, he just did not miss. He had that low back lift and would drill the ball into the corner with such power and accuracy. They were both similar in that they were not the tallest centre-forwards, but they both had a wonderful spring.
“I have always thought that Henrik was more adaptable. He could play as an out-and-out centre-forward, a number 10, or even off the wide areas, as we saw when he came on for Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final and turned that game on its head with a couple of wonderful assists and passes. They were both wonderful players.
“I was lucky to have played with many good strikers throughout my career, and Henrik and Alan were two outstanding ones. You know they are outstanding when, years later, people are still talking about them. Alan and Henrik are still held in such great esteem in the footballing world.”
Finally, Chris, you now cover Scottish football for Sky Sports, working alongside Kris Boyd and James McFadden among others. How much do you enjoy working as a pundit?
“I really enjoy it. As far as I know—Kris may tell you differently—there is mutual respect between myself and Kris, he was a phenomenal goal scorer and a good player, as was James. I enjoy their company. A lot of what we say comes from our passion for football.
“Kris was the Rangers guy, and I was the Celtic guy, but I do admire Kris. I admire him because he says what he thinks and stands by what he says. He does wind people up at times and even annoys me sometimes. But I think he is an excellent pundit, I really do. I enjoy working with him and James, who is often in the middle, rolling his eyes at the pair of us.
“Football is about opinions, and I love coming up north of the border to commentate on games and be a pundit. I have thoroughly enjoyed sparring with Kris and James. I love the Scottish game and have thoroughly enjoyed the start of the season. There are some good stories materialising.
“Aberdeen under, Jimmy Thelin is one to watch. It would be good to see Aberdeen go strong this season. Celtic were phenomenal on the opening weekend against Kilmarnock; it is one of the best performances I’ve seen on the first day. Rangers have work to do. Philippe Clement signed his new deal, but they looked a bit off, and we both know he needs to get them going quickly. Otherwise, things can turn. He had a good season last season in terms of what he took over, and he really got Rangers going, but Celtic were the stronger team towards the end of the season. Brendan Rodgers’ team really hit their stride in the last three months, and they deserved to win the league.”
“We both know the climate up there. At this moment, there is a long way to go before the end of the month, but it will be interesting to see how many more players Rangers and Celtic bring in. Celtic want to strengthen and have a go in the Champions League.”
Chris Sutton was speaking courtesy of Best Online Poker Sites.