Tuesday 2 September 2014

68. Karel Poborsky


Signed from: Slavia Prague (£3,500,000), July 1996
Debut: 2-2 draw vs Everton, August 21st 1996
League Record: 18 games (+14 as sub), 5 goals
Sold to: Benfica (£2,460,000), July 1998

I’m sure hardly any United fans had a clue who this guy was prior to the 1996 European Championships. There, the Czech scored a goal that got replayed countless times as his nation made it to the final, beaten in extra time by the Germans. It was enough to convince Fergie to stump up the cash on what surely must have been a transfer that was "taking a punt" rather than well-planned out.

In hindsight, he was a puzzling addition. As a right-winger, he was in competition with David Beckham, who had had a solid first full season the year before. Then, on the first day of 1996/97, young Dave scored from the halfway line at Wimbledon, a moment which helped propel him to superstardom.

Karel, meanwhile, was less prone to such spectacular moments, though if nothing else he was faster than Beckham. Despite a well-taken goal in our 4-0 spanking of Leeds, he never really established a regular spot. His ridiculous hair style perhaps didn't help endear him to the crowd too – a factor to which Maurone Fellani can relate to.

In his second season, his chances of a game dropped and he was let go to Benfica, to non-existent mourning from most supporters. He clearly wasn't that bad, as he subsequently went on to enjoy a lengthy career in Italy, Portugal and back in his homeland. 118 caps for the Czech Republic isn't too shabby either!

67. Ronny Johnsen


Signed from: Besiktas (£1,200,000), Summer of 1996
Debut: 3-0 win vs Wimbledon (as sub), August 17th 1996
League Record: 85 games (+14 as sub), 7 goals
Sold to: released on a free transfer, Summer of 2002

At the time, to me at least, an unknown when we signed him. Having started in his native Norway, a short spell in Turkey preceded his move to us, by which time he was already established in the national team.

And a fine signing he turned out to be. Calm, tough enough to hack the English game but refined enough to be able to use the ball at his feet, he would become a firm favourite with the fans.

Though signed (presumably) as Fergie continued the search to replace Steve Bruce (he had left the summer Ronny signed), he occasionally filled in at midfield, playing an absolute blinder in that role in our 4-0 drubbing of Porto in 1997. The Portuguese side were considered a tough draw, but a barnstorming performance saw us through to the semi-finals.

A championship medal capped off a good first season, but he never quite managed that level of consistency again, in the main part due to injuries. He still managed to do his bit in the Treble season, though, starting in the Champions League final. Subsequent seasons saw injury problems limit his appearances and he was eventually let go on a free. He managed to get a contract at Aston Villa, playing fairly regularly for two years before a short spell at Newcastle. Drifting back home, he enjoyed a few more years playing before retiring at the end of the 2008 season.

A fine player, who rarely let anyone down, the kind that often make up vital cogs in a championship winning team.