Piece for the Cardiff City FC match program:
Alan Pardew has been described by the BBC as a “distant and dangerous animal,” and is the only man to have taunted Arsene Wenger to the point of fisticuffs; a feat even Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger’s great protagonist, hasn’t managed.
The current Charlton manager starred as a player for Crystal Palace in the days when short shorts were de rigeur and wages were £400 a week. That’s roughly £129,600 a week less than Chelsea’s John Terry is on today.
Pardew helped Palace win promotion to the old Division One and scored the winning goal in the Eagles’ 4-3 FA Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool in 1990 but had to settle for a runners-up medal after taking Manchester United to a replay in the Final.
The former glazier, who once took six months out of football for a better-paid window job in the Middle East, moved to Charlton Athletic in 1991 and was their top scorer in 1992/93.
His managerial career began at Barnet as a player coach before he moved to Reading as reserve team manager. In 1998 he took charge of the first team and led them from the bottom of the old Second Division to Division One and narrowly missed out on back-to-back promotions to the top flight when Reading lost in the play-offs.
West Ham came calling at the start of the 2003/04 season and the prospect of handling an outfit more likely to make the Premiership than Reading was too much for Pardew to turn down. He failed in his first season but secured promotion to the top flight in his second.
A remarkable season followed in 2005/06, culminating in an epic 2006 FA Cup Final clash against Liverpool and an in-form Steven Gerrard. West Ham lost on penalties and from there things went to pot for Pardew.
In the summer of 2006 Pardew stunned the world when he pulled off the signing of the Argentinean duo, arguably the hottest prospects in world football. But they failed to fit in at Upton Park. Tevez eventually scored the goal that spared Alan Curbishley’s blushes at the end of last season, but by then Pardew had been sacked and taken up the reins at Curbishley’s old stomping ground, Charlton.
Pardew was unveiled at the Valley less than two weeks after Icelandic moneyman Magnusson lost patience with him at West Ham. He took over with Charlton in 19th place and with the worst goal difference in the league. Charlton's form improved but he was unable to keep them up, suffering the first relegation of his career as a player and manager.
His motto? Tenacity, spirit and flair.
Alan Pardew has been described by the BBC as a “distant and dangerous animal,” and is the only man to have taunted Arsene Wenger to the point of fisticuffs; a feat even Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger’s great protagonist, hasn’t managed.
The current Charlton manager starred as a player for Crystal Palace in the days when short shorts were de rigeur and wages were £400 a week. That’s roughly £129,600 a week less than Chelsea’s John Terry is on today.
Pardew helped Palace win promotion to the old Division One and scored the winning goal in the Eagles’ 4-3 FA Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool in 1990 but had to settle for a runners-up medal after taking Manchester United to a replay in the Final.
The former glazier, who once took six months out of football for a better-paid window job in the Middle East, moved to Charlton Athletic in 1991 and was their top scorer in 1992/93.
His managerial career began at Barnet as a player coach before he moved to Reading as reserve team manager. In 1998 he took charge of the first team and led them from the bottom of the old Second Division to Division One and narrowly missed out on back-to-back promotions to the top flight when Reading lost in the play-offs.
West Ham came calling at the start of the 2003/04 season and the prospect of handling an outfit more likely to make the Premiership than Reading was too much for Pardew to turn down. He failed in his first season but secured promotion to the top flight in his second.
A remarkable season followed in 2005/06, culminating in an epic 2006 FA Cup Final clash against Liverpool and an in-form Steven Gerrard. West Ham lost on penalties and from there things went to pot for Pardew.
In the summer of 2006 Pardew stunned the world when he pulled off the signing of the Argentinean duo, arguably the hottest prospects in world football. But they failed to fit in at Upton Park. Tevez eventually scored the goal that spared Alan Curbishley’s blushes at the end of last season, but by then Pardew had been sacked and taken up the reins at Curbishley’s old stomping ground, Charlton.
Pardew was unveiled at the Valley less than two weeks after Icelandic moneyman Magnusson lost patience with him at West Ham. He took over with Charlton in 19th place and with the worst goal difference in the league. Charlton's form improved but he was unable to keep them up, suffering the first relegation of his career as a player and manager.
His motto? Tenacity, spirit and flair.
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