I thought I was getting axed by my club – then I was called up by England and nutmegged Pep Guardiola on historic debut
FORMER defender CHRIS POWELL, 55, reflects on getting called up for England for the first time at 31 and being part of a Three Lions team managed for the first time by a foreign coach – the late Swedish manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Powell played over 750 games in his career for eight clubs between 1989 and 2008. He was awarded an MBE last year for services to football and is assistant coach at Sheffield Wednesday…
THE moment I saw Dan Burn had been selected for Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad last week, it transported me straight back to getting my first call up 24 years ago.
I arrived for training at Charlton just like any other day and then at the end of the session I was called in by manager Alan Curbishley to see him in his office.
That usually meant I was going to be dropped from the team! So I was a bit anxious.
But I got the biggest shock of my life when Alan told me that a fax had arrived from the FA – that was our fastest mode of memo – with the news that I had been included in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s first England squad.
Probably like Dan at the age of 32, I thought my opportunity to play for England had gone, so to get the nod was unbelievable. I was 31.
And a bit like the Newcastle hero, I was the first player to arrive at the hotel to report in for England duty. Because the England game was being played at Villa Park, it was at the New Hall Hotel in Birmingham.
The other coincidence with Dan is that my call up was the first squad picked by a foreign coach – Sven – and Dan has been picked by the first English foreign coach for 14 years (Tuchel).
Being selected for the Three Lions meant so much to me, but I was particularly proud to be picked as a Charlton player because it was so rare for players outside the ‘Big Four’ teams – as they were there. To help get Charlton on the map was such a feeling of pride.
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The next shock was realising I would be starting this game. We went out for a training session and we were set up in a game environment and given bibs.
I put on my bib, thinking I was going to be the Spanish equivalent left back to England’s first team.
Then I looked around and noticed I was wearing the same colour bib as Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen and it dawned on me: ‘I must be one of the players that will start.’
The whole experience was incredible. On the day of the game there was a quiet calm about the whole dressing room which I think was perfect for me.
As a kid growing up and getting the opportunity to play football for a living meant everything – but now being able to look back and add that I won five England caps is something I treasure..
And it’s thanks to Sven, very sadly no longer with us, that I have this memory.
I will never forget walking out, lining up and singing the National Anthem.
ENGLAND 3 SPAIN 0
HERE are the details from Villa Park
ENGLAND (1) 3
Barmby 38, Heskey 55, Ehiogu 70
SPAIN (0) 0
(Villa Park, Feb 28, 2001) Att: 42,219
ENGLAND: James (Martyn), P Neville (G Neville), Powell (Ball), Butt (Lampard), Ferdinand (Ehiogu), Campbell, Beckham (McCann), Scholes (Heskey), A Cole, Owen, Barmby.
SPAIN: Casillas (Canizares), Pablo, Romero, Guardiola (Baraja), Ferndez (Jemez), Mendieta (Sanchez), Raul (Etxeberria), Urzaiz (Moreno), Helgura, Vergara.
Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).
I also vividly recall cheekily nut-megging a certain Spanish player called Pep Guardiola. Whatever happened to him?!
Because it was a friendly, the managers made eight changes at half-time. I came off although I wasn’t supposed to. I had a bit of a calf niggle and Sven suggested I didn’t take any chances so Michael Ball replaced me.
The fact we won the game comfortably too, makes it such a special memory for me.
I genuinely hope that Dan (Burn) gets an opportunity like I did. He thoroughly deserves it too and would be a great fit on the left side of England’s defence.