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WEST HAM UNITED THE MANAGERS
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BOOK: WEST HAM UNITED: THE MANAGERS
WEST HAM UNITED THE MANAGERS By Tony McDonald
Published by Football World, December 2007
Normal RRP: £20.00
Special discount price is now only £10.00 (post-free in UK).
Printed in hardback, 400 pages, plus more than 120 pictures - including rare photos from the former managers' personal family archives.
West Ham United had employed only 11 full-time managers in its 107-year history when the first edition of this book came out.
But managing the East London club has never been easy - right from the very early days when their first boss, Syd King, committed suicide. None of King's successor's ever felt quite that desperately low when results and events conspired against them but there have certainly been traumatic times along the way.
Glenn Roeder, who admitted he was lucky to be given the job, collapsed with a brain tumour and was in intensive care for five days shortly before his team was relegated.
Alan Pardew was sacked just six months after taking the club to its first Cup final in 25 years and a strong first season back in the Premiership.
Billy Bonds, a playing legend for 21 years before taking charge, twice led his beloved Hammers to promotion to the top flight, but was unable to avoid the dreaded drop in a year plagued by off the field unrest and supporters' protests sparked by the notorious bond scheme. He walked away in bitter disgust after claiming his former No.2 Harry Redknapp was offered his job behind his back. These two former best mates have never spoken since and Bonzo and 'H' explain why.
Teetotal Scot Lou Macari, who tried in vain to ban his players from drinking alcohol and eating chips, suddenly resigned in mid-season following a relentless national newspaper campaign against him, alleging he had previously placed bets on his former club to LOSE matches.
The Scot's arrival had ended almost three decades of stability and success under the much-revered Ron Greenwood, who went on to manage England, and his protégé John Lyall. Between them, these two highly respected coaches and men of integrity guided the Irons to their greatest achievements two European finals, three FA Cup victories, a couple of League Cup final appearances and their highest-ever league positions while upholding the club's tradition for playing an entertaining brand of football.
From December 2006 it was Alan Curbishley trying to bring success and Premier League stability to West Ham United. Having narrowly saved the club from relegation on a nerve-wracking final day of the 2006-07 season, Curbs spoke of the size of the task facing him on his return to the club where he first made his name as a player. He had been given an unprecedented transfer budget by the club's new Icelandic owners but, after leading Hammers up to midway in the PL in his first full season in charge, he resigned just three league games into the 2008-09 season.
West Ham United - The Managers examines in depth the life and times of all 11 men who have managed the Hammers.
In addition to the above mentioned nine, we also look at the contributions of East Enders Charlie Paynter and Ted Fenton, who laid the foundations for progress in the 50s, plus the legendary Trevor Brooking, who has twice stepped in as caretaker boss in recent years.
With candid contributions from most of the managers themselves, close members of their families and the thoughts of many others who have played for and worked closely with them, this book provides a unique and compelling insight into the men who have occupied the West Ham hotseat and the many factors that have determined both their successes and failures.
In compiling some 225,000 words, author and lifelong West Ham fan Tony McDonald has conducted exclusive interviews with Alan Curbishley, John Lyall, Lou Macari, Billy Bonds, Harry Redknapp, Glenn Roeder, Alan Pardew and caretaker manager Sir Trevor Brooking.
Read about the West Ham manager who . . . *Made a court plea to save one of his stars from a prison sentence. *Tried to sack his captain and star player but was prevented from doing so by the Board. *Threatened to resign when six of his players broke a hotel curfew. *Lost his leading scorer after a stabbing incident. *Persuaded one of his injured stars to place a bet for him on the horses . . . just minutes before kick-off! *Was falsely accused of masterminding a betting coup involving his own players against Manchester United. *Refused to co-operate with the club's PR department when fans turned against the club. *Deducted money from his players' pay packets and, allegedly, kept it for himself. *Put England skipper Bobby Moore on the transfer list. *Failed to turn up for the team bus and had to be talked out of resigning. *Resigned in anger after suspecting a boardroom plot to oust him. *Saw two of his players admitted to rehab to try and cure their drink and gambling addictions and another arrested on charges of committing affray. *Turned down all invitations to return to the club he once loved. *Sold his West Ham United shares back to the club after he fell on hard times.
