Premier League managers usually soar on the likelihood to tackle high-profile jobs as quickly as doable for worry of not being granted the identical alternative once more, however Alan Curbishley has defined why he stood agency at Charlton all through his profession.
Hypothesis linked Curbishley with Liverpool at numerous factors all through his 15 years at Charlton, whereas he additionally interviewed for the England job in 2006 when it turned clear that Sven-Goran Eriksson can be leaving after the World Cup.
West Ham, although, made Curbishley a concerete provide in 2001, with the Hammers wanting him to exchange the departing Harry Redknapp. For the east London native, remaining on the Valley the place he felt comfy made extra sense, so he rejected their advances.
Alan Curbishley determined towards West Ham transfer
“There was a variety of noise about Liverpool. West Ham additionally got here in for me when Harry Redknapp left,” Curbishley reveals to FourFourTwo. “However I used to be able at Charlton the place I used to be answerable for the entire soccer membership.
“To be trustworthy, I didn’t suppose I used to be prepared – I felt I wanted extra expertise earlier than taking up a much bigger membership. That’s what occurred finally, as West Ham got here in for me a second time, after I left Charlton, and I jumped on the alternative.”
Certainly, West Ham lastly obtained their man 5 years after initially making an attempt to lure him away from Charlton, with Curbishley serving to maintain them up within the Premier League towards all odds in 2006/07. He had already left the Addicks when he signed for the Hammers, although, departing on the finish of 2005/06, after 15 years on the membership.
Throughout that point he helped Charlton to the Premier League in 1998/99, and although they have been instantly relegated he retained the religion of the board and obtained the membership again up on the first time of asking, profitable the First Division (now the Championship) with 91 factors.
Curbishley then helped them survive six seasons within the Premier League previous to his departure; a yr later they dropped all the way down to the Championship, with the membership but to return to the highest flight.
“My contract had one yr left and I’d simply been interviewed for the England job,” Curbishley explains about his exit. “I wished the contract to expire, simply to see the place all of us have been in the summertime. Different golf equipment had been sniffing round. Ultimately, a parting of how was agreed and I had an excellent send-off from the followers and administrators there.”