Debut: 5-1 win vs Millwall, September 16th 1989
League Record: 203 games (+3 as sub), 25 goals
Sold to: Inter Milan (£7,500,000), summer of 1995
Paul Ince was one of numerous products of West Ham United’s famed youth system and the ambition that would cause many a United fan to later label him many rude names was evident when the Hammers were relegated from the First Division in 1989.
He wanted out, and got wind United were interested. With West Ham not too keen on letting him go, a picture appeared in the papers of him wearing a United shirt. Sure enough, Hammers fan were enraged and his swiftly left the club - Ince stated the picture wasn't supposed to have been released until after the transfer was completed, but it didn't sit well with anyone. Not ones to drop a grudge, our match at Upton Park in 1994 saw him subject to vile abuse from his former supporters, which he answered in the best fashion by scoring a late equaliser.
When he did arrive, he failed a medical and thus the fee was paid with a million up front and the rest per game he played. At first, he didn’t seem all that special, being very raw and as yet unable to really take control of a game - and if not for injuries to Robson and Webb, I doubt he would have got as many games as he did in his first year. Indeed, for spells of that season, he instead played at right-back in place of the injured Viv Anderson, including the cup final.
All the same, there were hints of something special: I especially remember him smashing a long range shot against the bar against Oldham that signalled there was something worth developing.
Over the next couple of years, he matured as a midfield player, doubtless helped by playing and training alongside Bryan Robson and by the time we began the first Premiership campaign, he was a crucial part of the team. In no small part this was down to finally adding goals to his game, knocking in seven that season when playing as a ball-winning midfielder was no small beer. He also made a habit of making driving runs from midfield that often led to goals - the third in our crucial win at Norwich in the Spring of 1993 being a very good example.
Around this time, he established himself in the national team and made history when he became the first black England captain. Despite that, his career at international level never really seemed to hit the heights of his club form, strong performances at Euro ’96 aside.
Playing alongside a man from Cork the next season, he got even better as we snapped up the league and FA Cup double. However, there were problems under the surface. Ince seemed to have begun believing his own hype, revelling in his self-appointed status as “the Guv’nor” – a nickname never likely to impress Alex Ferguson. After the disastrous 4-0 spanking at the hands of Barcelona in 1994, Fergie slammed Ince as a “big time Charlie” and in hindsight, it was no surprise we let him head off to Inter that summer, especially given he had ambitions of trying his luck in Italy. It turned out to be the best move for us too, his departure allowing other players the chance to stamp their mark on the team.
At Inter, he seemed to be a success: his second season saw him score six goals in 24 games, a superb return in the hyper-defensive Serie A. They also made the UEFA Cup final, though were beaten on penalties by Schalke.
After two years on the continent, he reappeared here playing for, of all teams, Liverpool – much to the chagrin of numerous Reds. In Ince’s defence, we hadn’t taken up the option to resign him and the scousers were doubtless the biggest club to make an offer. What was more hard to take was when he scored an equaliser in a crucial league game at the end of the 1999 season and celebrated like he’d won the World Cup. Perhaps he believed he’d got one over Fergie, but history records who had the last laugh there.
After failing to add to his medals in a team that flattered to deceive, he went on to spells at Middlesbrough and Wolves before moving into management. In that role, he appears to not possess the skills that he seems to think he has, though at least his son Tom looks like being a promising winger over at Blackpool.
Despite his apparent bitterness in the late 90s towards us, I've managed to maintain a respect for him as a player. He stepped up when Bryan Robson was too old to run the midfield and we wouldn't have won the 1993 and 1994 championships without him. That said, a future entry took many of Ince's qualities and added much more...
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