Ian Wright
From the July 2006 issue
From the wholehearted football showman to the unashamedly patriotic pundit, via the loud-suited television presenter, Ian Wright doesn’t do quiet. Take today, for instance. Having just finished shooting a television advert for Sure at a North London studio, ‘Wrighty’ gurns and gesticulates his way through a seemingly endless series of television interviews, each more enthusiastically than the last.
The only worry for FourFourTwo is that the former Crystal Palace, Arsenal and England striker will be tired and grouchy by the time he comes to face your questions. But as he bounds over, wearing a white boiler suit (like you do), our worries are soon put to rest. “Readers' questions, is it?” he says, clapping his hands together and looking typically ‘up for it’. “Let’s do this…”
Who did you support as a kid and why? And who were your heroes?
Billy Williams, via e-mail
I supported Millwall as a kid and I will always support Millwall because they were my local team and the first football match I was taken to was at the Old Den. My heroes were players like Barry Kitchener, Dave Mehmet, John Seasman, Micky Johns and Phil Walker. Never heard of them? I’ll let you off.
My son never believes me when I tell him I once played against you in a cup final. It was in the mid-80s, a Greenwich & Lewisham Sunday league cup final at Fisher Athletic's ground; I think you beat us 4-1. Do you remember it? And can you just tell him his old man could play football once!
Rob Wells, via e-mail
Well obviously I can’t remember him exactly, but I do remember playing a final at Fisher. You’ve got to understand that a lot of people have come up to me and said they played against me when I was playing Sunday League football. But I do remember the game so I most probably did play against him. I think I did score as well!
You came to professional football late. Did you think you’d missed your chance?
Lee Harvey, Exeter
Yes, all the time. I was just a normal boy from South London who loved football and I tried to get into the professional game from the age of about 12 but for whatever reason it just wasn’t happening. I went to trials and didn’t get in, went to more trials and still didn’t get in. I went to Brighton when I was 19 and they turned me down, but I kept going and in the end I went to Palace at 21 and they signed me.
I don’t know why the other clubs didn’t take me. I thought I was a good player when I was younger. I was quick, scored goals, could use both feet – everything. I can only put it down to the fact that I was quite small and skinny.
What would you be up to now if you hadn’t made it as a footballer?
Neville Andrews, via e-mail
To be honest, I would most probably be doing something in the building trade – a plasterer or a bricklayer, something like that – because that’s what I was training to do. I was just getting into it when I finally got my break in football and all of a sudden I didn’t need to do it anymore, so I just moved on. I would have most probably stuck with that and just played Sunday football – and I’d probably still have a decent ankle to play football on now, because my ankle is messed up. Do I do my own DIY now? No, I don’t remember how and I don’t need to.
Off the bench in the 1990 FA Cup Final. First touch turned Pallister inside out and scored, a few minutes later volleyed in what looked like the winner, before Hughes equalised and took it to a replay. Do you think you should have started that match? Would you have won if you had?
Jimmy Moyes, via e-mail
I would like to have started the replay because Bobby Robson said that if I had started the replay he would have taken me to the World Cup in 1990. He would have seen that I was fit enough to start a game, so not starting is a hard thing to swallow. And I do genuinely believe that I should have started the replay but Steve Coppell had his ideas for what he wanted to do and I wasn’t going to argue with him. I'd just come back from injury, but having scored two goals in the first game, I thought he might start me and play 4-4-2. I don’t know why he didn’t. Maybe he thought that would have meant changing things too much? It’s something that will always plague me because I was desperate to play.
How did you feel being part of the Arsenal side - and scoring a goal – as they beat us 3-0 and relegated us in 1993? You seemed to quite enjoy it at the time…
Tim, Crystal Palace fan
Everyone likes to say that I scored the goal that sent Palace down, but that’s bollocks. The thing is, when we were playing that game, Palace were virtually down anyway.
The thing is, I’m a professional footballer, you know, and my job is to score goals. If I was playing for Palace and it was the other way round it would been exactly the same. What am I supposed to do, miss a goal just because I’m playing against Palace? I love Palace, I’ll always love Palace, but scoring that goal felt great at the time because I was trying to improve my fitness for the FA Cup final a week later.
I could feel what he was getting at in his tone, so if that’s the way he wants to see it, then yes, I sent them down.
I was a ballboy at Arsenal back in 1994/95. Do you remember using us as target practice before games while warming up at the North Bank?
Lloyd Major, via e-mail
I used to get up to all sorts of mischief when I was warming up – anything to have a bit of a laugh while you’re waiting for the match to start – and yeah, I did used to do that. I think I caught a couple of them, but hopefully they’re alright. They’ve obviously lived to tell the tale. I also used kick the ball up into the top tier of the North Bank, but I never hurt anyone.
There always seemed to be a bit of aggravation between you and Ken Monkou. Why?
Niall Biggs, Dublin
I don’t know why, but Ken always used to be a bit of a bully. He’d come in from the back and try to kick me and overpower me but I just wouldn’t take any rubbish from him. I used to give it to him back and because I was smaller than him I would dive into him.
There are a lot of players I had needle with and it used to help me, it would spur me on. I used to look forward to playing against people like Ken Monkou, who wanted to dig you and kick you and try to elbow you, because that was part of it.
As a Chelsea fan I remember you having a good rapport with our supporters and taking the banter in your stride, which rarely happens nowadays. Do you feel that the game has started taking itself too seriously and lost some of its entertainment value?
Adam, Lancashire
Great question, great question. It’s funny because I was talking to someone about this the other day, and I did used to get stick at Chelsea. The thing with Chelsea fans is, I used to give it back when I got close to the touchline and at the end of the game I’d clap the Chelsea fans and they’d clap me back. But you’d go to places like Coventry, Southampton and Villa and they give you stick and then report you to the FA if you said something back.
I was close to signing for Chelsea and their fans know that if I played for them I’d be just the same and they can appreciate that. That’s why even now, when I go to Chelsea to watch Shaun
[Wright-Phillips, his son who was at Stamford Bridge at the time of the interview], I get on so well with the fans. Of course, there is less of it in the game now, because people take it too seriously and players don’t have as good a rapport with the fans. Because of money, there is such a distance between them now and it’s quite worrying. It’s a “us and them” situation and it shouldn’t be like that.
How did you feel after George Graham left Arsenal? What was your relationship with Bruce Rioch like?
Jayne Greaves, Leeds
I was disappointed in the way George Graham left, which I’d rather not go into, and I had a bad relationship with Bruce Rioch. The club was just too big for him, and he wasn’t for me. I did what I was told but he was picking me out just for the sake of it, trying to get his foothold in the dressing room, and I gave as good as I got. In the end I wanted to put myself on the transfer list because I didn’t want to play for him. You can’t go into training everyday and dislike somebody to the point of not wanting to look at him or train. How are you going to play football in that state of mind? Football is meant to be enjoyed. I hated it and I hated being anywhere near the guy.
Do The Wright Thing – better or worse than Andy Cole's single Outstanding?
Kevin Elliot, London
My one was much better than Andy Cole’s, but the less said about both the better. Does he know I think mine’s better? He does now!
Uri Geller once famously said that he made you hit the post in Rome in the World Cup qualifier against Italy, to prevent riots between rival fans. Did you feel a mystical presence as you hit the ball?
Mike Springett, via e-mail
No. The thing is, if I’d seen Uri afterwards and he’d said that, I’d have knocked him out. If that is to be believed, then he denied me arguably my finest hour. It was my greatest game in an England shirt and he’s saying that. It’s b*ll*cks. It hit the post because that’s the way it was meant to be, as is [Christian] Vieri going up the other end and missing a header almost straight away. It had nothing to do with Uri Geller or anybody else. He’s talking sh*t.
Do you look back on your England career and consider yourself lucky because you won so many caps after coming into the game late, or unlucky because you missed out on playing in a major championship finals?
Adam Spencer, via e-mail
Both. I’m unlucky that I missed out on all the major championships for one reason or another. As I mentioned earlier, I missed out in 1990 because Bobby didn’t think I was fit enough. I was on form in 1992 but for some reason Graham Taylor didn’t take me. We didn’t qualify in ‘94. In ‘96 Venables said he was going to bring me back but in the end he didn’t – and I know I would have scored the Golden Goal in the semi-final. I would have gone in ’98 but I missed out with a hamstring injury the week before the finals.
But I have to be pleased with the fact that I came into the game at 22, was playing for England at 26, and won 33 caps. I’ve got to be say, “F**king hell, that’s unbelievable.”
When you broke the Arsenal goalscoring record, on the match day you took off your shirt revealing the Just Done It vest, but after scoring your first goal which didn't break the record but equalled it! What happened there, then?
Lewis Bartlett, via e-mail
When I look back at that incident, because of the excitement of the whole day, I love it. But the fact of the matter is, it would have been the most embarrassing moment in my whole life had I not scored a second goal. It was like premature ejaculation! Can you imagine if I’d taken but shirt off and not ended up breaking the record that day?! In the end I scored a hat-trick, but I wasn’t thinking straight at the time, because it was so in a moment. I’m just pleased I can laugh about it.
Burnley: why?
Bonky, London
That season [1999-2000] I had four clubs. I started at West Ham, went on loan to Nottingham Forest, signed for Celtic when Henrik got injured, then left Celtic and literally retired. Then my old coach from Crystal Palace Stan Ternent was at Burnley and he said: “For the last four months of the season why don’t you come down and see if you can help us get promotion?” Which we did.
Smiles in front of the camera aside, were you really pleased for Thierry Henry when he beat your Arsenal goalscoring record? Or were you cursing him in private?
Simon Burns, via e-mail
People say that because he broke my record, but I’m not going to curse Thierry. I always knew he would break the record if he stayed so I was always prepared for it. I never thought, “F**king hell, I wish he’d leave so that I still have the record.” I’ve done my bit. I’m the second greatest goalscorer in Arsenal’s history, I came into the game at 22 I was still scoring goals at 34. I can’t complain about what happens from here.
How do you think you and Henry would have worked as a partnership? Is he better than you were in your Arsenal days?
Sarah Stevenson, via e-mail
I think so, yes, in terms of natural, all-round ability, but I’m a different animal. We could have played together, and it would probably free him up to be even more brilliant outside the box and I’d always be in the box, because all I wanted to do was score goals. It’s like the other day – he put in a cross that I know I would be on the end of.
How was the best defender you ever played against? I heard you didn’t like playing against Sol Campbell because he never responded to your ‘chat’…
Liz, London
No, he never did, but I still scored goals against Sol. Des Walker, Martin Keown and Gary Pallister were all quick, strong and skilful, but if I had to pick one, I’d say Des was the hardest player to play against.
You’ve had a pretty prolific television career, but what show would you really like to host that you haven’t already? Mastermind? Newsnight? Bullseye?
Bill Evans, Lincoln
Ha, ha!! No, I’m finished doing those type of shows. I want to do more serious stuff, hard-hitting, controversial documentaries or something, programmes that are going to say something and make a difference. But I would have liked to do something like David Letterman’s show, that kind of thing.
Do things ever get our of hand on They Think It’s All Over? We only see what they show, but what don’t they show?
Micky, via e-mail
Yes. God, yes. It doesn’t get out of hand to the extent that people want to hit each other but some of the banter they cut out is brilliant. Jonathan [Ross] is amazing. His banter and quick-wittedness – I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s quite intimidating because he’s unbelievably sharp.
Whose idea was it to make up with Peter Schmeichel: yours, his or the BBC’s? And are you really friends now or were you at each other’s throats when the cameras stopped rolling?
Dave Broderick, via e-mail
We made up a week after the actual incident. We met up and shook hands and we wanted to do it in public but between the two clubs and their lawyers it took a while. That’s why it wasn’t a problem to work on the BBC together. We play golf together, I’ve been out and stayed in Portugal with him. It was just two players at the top of their game who didn’t want to give an inch. He’s a goalkeeper, I’m a striker – natural enemies – it was perfect for the tabloids. But it’s water under the bridge and we’re good friends now.
Place these partnerships in order: Wright and Bright, Wright and Bergkamp, Henry and Bergkamp…
Madan Sheina, San Francisco, California
I’d have to put Henry and Bergkamp at the top, but they’re not a million miles away from me and Bergkamp. Dennis can make anybody great – he definitely did that with me. Me and Brighty would have to be third unfortunately, but no-one would begrudge me that.
Chicken Tonight or Privilege Insurance: which advert do you prefer and why? Are there any adverts you refused to do? If so, what are they and why?
Chris Burnett, Reading
Chicken Tonight was great because it was a good laugh but I’d have to say I preferred Privilege because I’m passionate about golf and Joanna Lumley is an amazing lady and a great actress – pure class. I don’t know if I’d advertise alcohol – it depends how much money they are paying me! – and I’d never ever advertise cigarettes.
What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored?
Andrew Wright, Runcorn
My second goal against Everton in 1993. Flick, flick, flick, I was in a flicking move. I flicked all over the place. Then I flicked it over the goaly as well. It was Neville Southall’s face that did it for me.
Which team did you most enjoy scoring against and why?
Nick Evans, via e-mail
Southampton, because I hated their fans. Coventry and Villa were really horrible as well. Like I said, they didn’t clap you after the game, they wanted to report you to the authorities and that’s not what the game’s about.
Spurs fans were always good. They gave me and my family loads of stick, but I never met a Tottenham fan in the street who said “you c**t”, “you w*nker” or anything. Tottenham fans actually said that out of the Arsenal players, me and Tony Adams were the players they’d have playing for Tottenham so I’m quite pleased with that.
How much of a culture shock was playing for Celtic? Was the support madder than you expected?
Gill Keane, Glasgow
Yes it was. It was a little bit too intense for me at that stage in my career, but I can respect it. It was unbelievable. It is the greatest supported club in the world, they’re amazing supporters and it was a privilege to play for them. They were great.
As one of several Englishmen in a successful Arsenal team, how do you feel about the lack of Englishmen in Arsene Wenger’s current squad and the criticism he’s come in for recently?
Gökhan Uzelli, Turkey
Very disappointed. I think that’s natural – I was a Londoner playing for a London club. This is the way it’s going unfortunately, but you’d like to see some English players playing for the top teams because eventually it’s going to affect the England national team, which is worrying.
You’re an Arsenal legend, Shaun’s an Arsenal fan – how disappointed are you he didn’t end up at Highbury? Why didn’t he? And did he ask for your advice?
Jim Hazell, via e-mail
He asked me for my advice. I told him “Arsenal’s a great club, but going to Chelsea’s not going to be a bad move for you.” Chelsea were the champions. “You are going to the champions, like I joined the champions when I went to Arsenal.” And now he’s a champion. OK, he’s played a little role in that, but the fact is he’s good enough to play for Chelsea.
Shaun’s a big man and when it came down to it, it was his decision. People come up to me and say “You let him go to Chelsea and look, he’s not playing.” It would have been easier to follow in my footsteps and join Arsenal, but I’m proud of the fact that he wanted to do his own thing, even though he knew it would be hard for him to get in the team. Fancy having the choice of Arsenal and Chelsea – and I’m sure Man United would have been in there as well if he hadn’t come from City. But Chelsea showed their intentions by putting up the money and he doesn’t have any regrets.
Poor old Steve Ogrizovic. As if his nose wasn’t already wonky enough, you went and broke it again in 1997. Was there any intent?
Vicky Green, via e-mail
Yeah, tell Steve I’m really sorry I messed up his career as a Hollywood actor! There wasn’t any intent and if you look at the incident, Sky showed it from every angle and slowed it down, everything they could to indict me for something I didn’t do. I wasn’t friendly with any goalkeeper apart from David Seaman, but I shook their hands afterwards. I went in for challenge with him and that’s it. That’s what I’m saying about Coventry fans – they had to find something to blame me for, but I don’t care.
You seem like an impulsive character who wears his heart on his sleeve. Do you look back and cringe at or regret anything? Cuffing David Howells? Slagging off Sven? Friday Night’s All Wright?
Gary Brown, via e-mail
I don’t regret anything. Friday Night’s All Wright is one the best things I’ll ever do because I met some of the biggest stars in the world. Slagging off Sven was my personal opinion as a football fan. I apologised for some of the personal, unprintable stuff that they ran. What was the other one? Oh yeah, me and David Howells are mates now – it happened in the heat of the moment. I’m a passionate man but I’m not impulsive to the point of thinking, “Shit, why did I say that?” If I do anything bad, I’ll apologise and move on.
You’ve said Sven lacks the passion to be England manager. Judging by your punditry, you don’t. Fancy the job?
Jamie O'Sullivan, via e-mail
That’s a really good question, because the thing is, if I had the tactical ability to be a manager I would be, because I have the passion. So by being an England fan and a television pundit, I get the best of both worlds. It means the world to me for England to do well because I’ve always watched England and loved England and wanted to play for England. Now I just want to support England. I'm inconsolable when we lose, so I’m not going to sit there and try and say everything’s great and try and look happy when I’m not. I won’t do that – you know what I mean?! Like any fan, I hate it when we lose and love it when we win.
From the July 2006 issue. Interview by Louis Massarella, photographs Leo Csernohlavek
From the July 2006 issue
From the wholehearted football showman to the unashamedly patriotic pundit, via the loud-suited television presenter, Ian Wright doesn’t do quiet. Take today, for instance. Having just finished shooting a television advert for Sure at a North London studio, ‘Wrighty’ gurns and gesticulates his way through a seemingly endless series of television interviews, each more enthusiastically than the last. The only worry for FourFourTwo is that the ex-Crystal Palace, Arsenal and England striker will be tired and grouchy by the time he comes to face your questions. But as he bounds over, wearing a white boiler suit (like you do) our worries are soon put to rest. “Readers' questions, is it?” he says, clapping his hands together and looking typically ‘up for it’. “Let’s do this…”
Who did you support as a kid and why? And who were your heroes?
Billy Williams, via e-mail
I supported Millwall as a kid and I will always support Millwall because they were my local team and the first football match I was taken to was at the Old Den. My heroes were players like Barry Kitchener, Dave Mehmet, John Seasman, Micky Johns and Phil Walker. Never heard of them? I’ll let you off.
My son never believes me when I tell him I once played against you in a cup final. It was in the mid-80s, a Greenwich and Lewisham Sunday league cup final at Fisher Athletic's ground, I think you beat us 4-1. Do you remember it? And can you just tell him his old man could play football once!
Rob Wells, via e-mail
Well obviously I can’t remember him exactly, but I do remember playing a final at Fisher. You’ve got to understand that a lot of people have come up to me and said they played against me when I was playing Sunday League football. But I do remember the game so I most probably did play against him. I think I did scored as well!
You came to professional football late. Did you think you’d missed your chance?
Lee Harvey, Exeter
Yes, all the time. I was just a normal boy from South London who loved football and I tried to get into the professional game from the age of about 12 but for whatever reason it just wasn’t happening. I went to trials and didn’t get in, went to more trials and still didn’t get in. I went to Brighton when I was 19 and they turned me down, but I kept going and in the end I went to Palace at 21 and they signed me.
I don’t know why the other clubs didn’t take me. I thought I was a good player when I was younger. I was quick, scored goals, could use both feet – everything. I can only put it down to the fact that I was quite small and skinny.
What would you be up to now if you hadn’t made it as a footballer?
Neville Andrews, via e-mail
To be honest, I would most probably be doing something in the building trade – a plasterer or a bricklayer, something like that – because that’s what I was training to do. I was just getting into it when I finally got my break football and all of a sudden I didn’t need to do it anymore, so I just moved on. I would have most probably stuck with that and just played Sunday football – and I’d probably still have a decent ankle to play football on now, because my ankle is messed up. Do I do my own DIY now? No, I don’t remember how and I don’t need to.
Off the bench in the 1990 FA Cup Final. First touch turned Pallister inside out and scored, a few minutes later volleyed in what looked like the winner, before Hughes equalised and took it to a replay. Do you think you should have started that match? Would you have won if you had?
Jimmy Moyes, via e-mail
I would like to have started the replay because Bobby Robson said that if I had started the replay he would have taken me to the World Cup in 1990. He would have seen that I was fit enough to start a game, so not starting is a hard thing to swallow. And I do genuinely believe that I should have started the replay but Steve Coppell had his ideas for what he wanted to do and I wasn’t going to argue with him. I had just come back from injury, but having scored two goals in the first game, I thought he might start me and play 4-4-2. I don’t know why he didn’t. Maybe he thought that would have meant changing things too much? It’s something that will always plague me because I was desperate to play.
How did you feel being part of the Arsenal side - and scoring a goal – as they beat us 3-0 and relegated us in 1993? You seemed to quite enjoy it at the time…
Tim, Crystal Palace fan
Everyone likes to say that I scored the goal that sent Palace down, but that’s bollocks. The thing is, when we were playing that game, Palace were virtually down anyway.
The thing is, I’m a professional footballer, you know, and my job is to score goals. If I was playing for Palace and it was the other way round it would been exactly the same. What am I supposed to do, miss a goal just because I’m playing against Palace? I love Palace, I’ll always love Palace, but scoring that goal felt great at the time because I was trying to improve my fitness for the FA Cup final a week later.
I could feel what he was getting at in his tone, so if that’s the way he wants to see it, then yes, I sent them down.
I was a ballboy at Arsenal back in 94/95. Do you remember using us as target practice before games while warming up at the North Bank?
Lloyd Major, via e-mail
I used to get up to all sorts of mischief when I was warming up – anything to have a bit of a laugh while you’re waiting for the match to start – and yeah, I did used to do that. I think I caught a couple of them, but hopefully they’re alright. They’ve obviously lived to tell the tale. I also used kick the ball up into the top tier of the North Bank, but I never hurt anyone.
There always seemed to be a bit of aggravation between you and Ken Monkou. Why?
Niall Biggs, Dublin
I don’t know why, but Ken always used to be a bit of a bully. He’d come in from the back and try to kick me and overpower me but I just wouldn’t take any rubbish from him. I used to give it to him back and because I was smaller than him I would dive into him. There are a lot of players I had needle with and it used to help me, it would spur me on. I used to look forward to playing against people like Ken Monkou, who wanted to dig you and kick you and try to elbow you, because that was part of it.
As a Chelsea fan I remember you having a good rapport with our supporters and taking the banter in your stride, which rarely happens nowadays. Do you feel that the game has started taking itself too seriously and lost some of its entertainment value?
Adam, Lancashire
Great question, great question. It’s funny because I was talking to someone about this the other day, and I did used to get stick at Chelsea. The thing with Chelsea fans is, I used to give it back when I got close to the touchline and at the end of the game I’d clap the Chelsea fans and they’d clap me back. But you’d go to places like Coventry, Southampton and Villa and they give you stick and then report you to the FA if you said something back. I was close to signing for Chelsea and their fans know that if I played for them I’d be just the same and they can appreciate that. That’s why even now, when I go to Chelsea to watch Shaun, I get on so well with the fans. Of course, there is less of it in the game now, because people take it too seriously and players don’t have as good a rapport with the fans. Because of money, there is such a distance between them now and it’s quite worrying. It’s a “us and them” situation and it shouldn’t be like that.
How did you feel after George Graham left Arsenal? What was your relationship with Bruce Rioch like?
Jayne Greaves, Leeds
I was disappointed in the way George Graham left, which I’d rather not go into, and I had a bad relationship with Bruce Rioch. The club was just too big for him, and he wasn’t for me. I did what I was told but he was picking me out just for the sake of it, trying to get his foothold in the dressing room, and I gave as good as I got. In the end I wanted to put myself on the transfer list because I didn’t want to play for him. You can’t go into training everyday and dislike somebody to the point of not wanting to look at him or train. How are you going to play football in that state of mind? Football is meant to be enjoyed. I hated it and I hated being anywhere near the guy.
Do The Wright Thing – better or worse than Andy Cole's single Outstanding?
Kevin Elliot, London
My one was much better than Andy Cole’s, but the less said about both the better. Does he know I think mine’s better? He does now!
Uri Gellar once famously said that he made you hit the post in Rome in the World Cup qualifier against Italy, to prevent riots between rival fans. Did you feel a mystical presence as you hit the ball?
Mike Springett, via e-mail
No. The thing is, if I’d seen Uri afterwards and he’d said that, I’d have knocked him out. If that is to be believed, then he denied me arguably my finest hour. It was my greatest game in an England shirt and he’s saying that. It’s bollocks. It hit the post because that’s the way it was meant to be, as is Vieri going up the other end and missing a header almost straight away. It had nothing to do with Uri Gellar or anybody else. He’s talking shit.
Do you look back on your England career and consider yourself lucky because you won so many caps after coming into the game late, or unlucky because you missed out on playing in a major championship finals?
Adam Spencer, via e-mail
Both. I’m unlucky that I missed out on all the major championships for one reason or another. As I mentioned earlier, I missed out in 1990 because Bobby didn’t think I was fit enough. I was on form in 1992 but for some reason Graham Taylor didn’t take me. We didn’t qualify in ‘94. In ‘96 Venables said he was going to bring me back but in the end he didn’t – and I know I would have scored the Golden Goal in the semi-final. I would have gone in ’98 but I missed out with a hamstring injury the week before the finals.
But I have to be pleased with the fact that I came into the game at 22, was playing for England at 26, and won 33 caps. I’ve got to be say, “Fucking hell, that’s unbelievable.”
When you broke the Arsenal goalscoring record, on the match day you took off your shirt revealing the Just Done It vest, but after scoring your first goal which didn't break the record but equalled it! What happened there, then?
Lewis Bartlett, via e-mail
When I look back at that incident, because of the excitement of the whole day, I love it. But the fact of the matter is, it would have been the most embarrassing moment in my whole life had I not scored a second goal. It was like premature ejaculation! Can you imagine if I’d taken but shirt off and not ended up breaking the record that day?! In the end I scored a hat-trick, but I wasn’t thinking straight at the time, because it was so in a moment. I’m just pleased I can laugh about it.
Burnley: why?
Bonky, London
That season [1999-2000] I had four clubs. I started at West Ham, went on loan to Nottingham Forest, signed for Celtic when Henrik got injured, then left Celtic and literally retired. Then my old coach from Crystal Palace Stan Ternent was at Burnley and he said: “For the last four months of the season why don’t you come down and see if you can help us get promotion?” Which we did.
Smiles in front of the camera aside, were you really pleased for Thierry Henry when he beat your Arsenal goalscoring record? Or were you cursing him in private?
Simon Burns, via e-mail
People say that because he broke my record, but I’m not going to curse Thierry. I always knew he would break the record if he stayed so I was always prepared for it. I never thought, “fucking hell, I wished he’d leave so that I still have the record.” I’ve done my bit. I’m the second greatest goalscorer in Arsenal’s history, I came into the game at 22 I was still scoring goals at 34. I can’t complain about what happens from here.
How do you think you and Henry would have worked as a partnership? Is he better than you were in your Arsenal days?
Sarah Stevenson, via e-mail
I think so, yes, in terms of natural, all-round ability, but I’m a different animal. We could have played together, and it would probably free him up to be even more brilliant outside the box and I’d always be in the box, because all I wanted to do was score goals. It’s like the other day – he put in a cross that I know I would be on the end of.
How was the best defender you ever played against? I heard you didn’t like playing against Sol Campbell because he never responded to your ‘chat’…
Liz, London
No, he never did, but I still scored goals against Sol. Des Walker, Martin Keown and Gary Pallister were all quick, strong and skilful, but if I had to pick one, I’d say Des was the hardest player to play against.
You’ve had a pretty prolific television career, but what show would you really like to host that you haven’t already? Mastermind? Newsnight? Bullseye?
Bill Evans, Lincoln
Ha, ha!! No, I’m finished doing those type of shows. I want to do more serious stuff, hard hitting, controversial documentaries or something, programmes that are going to say something and make a difference. But I would have like to do something like David Letterman’s show, that kind of thing.
Do things ever get our of hand on They Think It’s All Over? We only see what they show, but what don’t they show?
Micky, via e-mail
Yes. God, yes. It doesn’t get out of hand to the extent that people want to hit each other but some of the banter they cut out is brilliant. Jonathan [Ross] is amazing. His banter and quick-wittedness – I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s quite intimidating because he’s unbelievably sharp.
Who’s idea was it to make up with Peter Schmeichel: yours, his or the BBC’s? And are you really friends now or were you at each other’s throats when the cameras stopped rolling?
Dave Broderick, via e-mail
We made up a week after the actual incident. We met up and shook hands and we wanted to do it in public but between the two clubs and their lawyers it took a while. That’s why it wasn’t a problem to work on the BBC together. We play golf together, I’ve been out and stayed in Portugal with him. It was just two players at the top of their game who didn’t want to give an inch. He’s a goalkeeper, I’m a striker – natural enemies – it was perfect for the tabloids. But it’s water under the bridge and we’re good friends now.
Place these partnerships in order: Wright and Bright, Wright and Bergkamp, Henry and Bergkamp…
Madan Sheina, San Francisco, California
I’d have to put Henry and Bergkamp at the top, but they’re not a million miles away from me and Bergkamp. Dennis can make anybody great – he definitely did that with me. Me and Brighty would have to be third unfortunately, but no-one would begrudge me that.
Chicken Tonight or Privilege Insurance: which advert do you prefer and why? Are there any adverts you refused to do? If so, what are they and why?
Chris Burnett, Reading
Chicken Tonight was great because it was a good laugh but I’d have to say I preferred Privilege because I’m passionate about golf and Joanna Lumley is an amazing lady and a great actress – pure class.
I don’t know if I’d advertise alcohol – it depends how much money they are paying me! – and I’d never ever advertise cigarettes.
What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored?
Andrew Wright, Runcorn
My second goal against Everton in 1993. Flick, flick, flick, I was in a flicking move. I flicked all over the place. Then I flicked it over the goaly as well. It was Neville Southall’s face that did it for me.
Which team did you most enjoy scoring against and why?
Nick Evans, via e-mail
Southampton, because I hated their fans. Coventry and Villa were really horrible as well. Like I said, they didn’t clap you after the game, they wanted to report you to the authorities and that’s not what the game’s about.
Spurs fans were always good. They gave me and my family loads of stick, but I never met a Tottenham fan in the street who said: “you c**t”, “you wanker” or anything. Tottenham fans actually said that out of the Arsenal players, me and Tony Adams were the players they’d have playing for Tottenham so I’m quite pleased with that.
How much of a culture shock was playing for Celtic? Was the support madder than you expected?
Gill Keane, Glasgow
Yes it was. It was a little bit too intense for me at that stage in my career, but I can respect it. It was unbelievable. It is the greatest supported club in the world, they’re amazing supporters and it was a privilege to play for them. They were great.
As one of several Englishmen in a successful Arsenal team, how do you feel about the lack of Englishmen in Arsene Wenger’s current squad and the criticism he’s come in for recently?
Gökhan Uzelli, Turkey
Very disappointed. I think that’s natural – I was a Londoner playing for a London club. This is the way it’s going unfortunately, but you’d like to see some English players playing for the top teams because eventually it’s going to affect the England national team, which is worrying.
You’re an Arsenal legend, Shaun’s an Arsenal fan – how disappointed are you he didn’t end up at Highbury? Why didn’t he? And did he ask for your advice?
Jim Hazell, via e-mail
He asked me for my advice. I told him “Arsenal’s a great club, but going to Chelsea’s not going to be a bad move for you.” Chelsea were the champions. “You are going to the champions, like I joined the champions when I went to Arsenal.” And now he’s a champion. Ok, he’s played a little role in that, but the fact is he’s good enough to play for Chelsea. Shaun’s a big man and when it came down to it, it was his decision. People come up to me and say, “you let him go to Chelsea and look, he’s not playing.” But it would have been easier to follow in my footsteps and join Arsenal, but I’m proud of the fact that he wanted to do his own thing, even though he knew it would be hard for him to get in the team. Fancy having the choice of Arsenal and Chelsea – and I’m sure Man United would have been in there as well if he hadn’t come from City. But Chelsea showed their intentions by putting up the money and he doesn’t have any regrets.
Poor old Steve Ogrizovic. As if his nose wasn’t already wonky enough, you went and broke it again in 1997. Was there any intent?
Vicky Green, via e-mail
Yeah, tell Steve I’m really sorry I messed up his career as a Hollywood actor! There wasn’t any intent and if you look at the incident, Sky showed it from every angle and slowed it down, everything they could to indict me for something I didn’t do. I wasn’t friendly with any goalkeeper apart from David Seaman, but I shook their hands afterwards. I went in for challenge with him and that’s it. That’s what I’m saying about Coventry fans – they had to find something to blame me for, but I don’t care.
You seem like an impulsive character who wears his heart on his sleeve. Do you look back and cringe at or regret anything? Cuffing David Howells? Slagging off Sven? Friday Night’s All Wright?
Gary Brown, via e-mail
I don’t regret anything. Friday Night’s All Wright is one the best things I’ll ever do because I met some of the biggest stars in the world. Slagging off Sven was my personal opinion as a football fan. I apologised for some of the personal, unprintable stuff that they ran. What was the other one? Oh yeah, me and David Howells are mates now – it happened in the heat of the moment. I’m a passionate man but I’m not impulsive to the point of thinking, “Shit, why did I say that?” If I do anything bad, I’ll apologise and move on.
You’ve said Sven lacks the passion to be England manager. Judging by your punditry, you don’t. Fancy the job?
Jamie O'Sullivan, via e-mail
That’s a really good question, because the thing is, if I had the tactical ability to be a manager I would be, because I have the passion. So by being and England fan and a television pundit, I get the best of both worlds. It means the world to me for England to do well because I’ve always watched England and loved England and wanted to play for England. Now I just want to support England, which is why I think Sure’s FanZone is such a good idea. I am inconsolable when we lose, so I’m not going to sit there and try and say everything’s great and try and look happy when I’m not. I won’t do that – you know what I mean?! Like any fan, I hate it when we lose and love it when we win.
From the July 2006 issue. Interview by Louis Massarella, photographs Leo Csernohlavek
From the July 2006 issue
From the wholehearted football showman to the unashamedly patriotic pundit, via the loud-suited television presenter, Ian Wright doesn’t do quiet. Take today, for instance. Having just finished shooting a television advert for Sure at a North London studio, ‘Wrighty’ gurns and gesticulates his way through a seemingly endless series of television interviews, each more enthusiastically than the last. The only worry for FourFourTwo is that the ex-Crystal Palace, Arsenal and England striker will be tired and grouchy by the time he comes to face your questions. But as he bounds over, wearing a white boiler suit (like you do) our worries are soon put to rest. “Readers' questions, is it?” he says, clapping his hands together and looking typically ‘up for it’. “Let’s do this…”
Who did you support as a kid and why? And who were your heroes?
Billy Williams, via e-mail
I supported Millwall as a kid and I will always support Millwall because they were my local team and the first football match I was taken to was at the Old Den. My heroes were players like Barry Kitchener, Dave Mehmet, John Seasman, Micky Johns and Phil Walker. Never heard of them? I’ll let you off.
My son never believes me when I tell him I once played against you in a cup final. It was in the mid-80s, a Greenwich and Lewisham Sunday league cup final at Fisher Athletic's ground, I think you beat us 4-1. Do you remember it? And can you just tell him his old man could play football once!
Rob Wells, via e-mail
Well obviously I can’t remember him exactly, but I do remember playing a final at Fisher. You’ve got to understand that a lot of people have come up to me and said they played against me when I was playing Sunday League football. But I do remember the game so I most probably did play against him. I think I did scored as well!
You came to professional football late. Did you think you’d missed your chance?
Lee Harvey, Exeter
Yes, all the time. I was just a normal boy from South London who loved football and I tried to get into the professional game from the age of about 12 but for whatever reason it just wasn’t happening. I went to trials and didn’t get in, went to more trials and still didn’t get in. I went to Brighton when I was 19 and they turned me down, but I kept going and in the end I went to Palace at 21 and they signed me.
I don’t know why the other clubs didn’t take me. I thought I was a good player when I was younger. I was quick, scored goals, could use both feet – everything. I can only put it down to the fact that I was quite small and skinny.
What would you be up to now if you hadn’t made it as a footballer?
Neville Andrews, via e-mail
To be honest, I would most probably be doing something in the building trade – a plasterer or a bricklayer, something like that – because that’s what I was training to do. I was just getting into it when I finally got my break football and all of a sudden I didn’t need to do it anymore, so I just moved on. I would have most probably stuck with that and just played Sunday football – and I’d probably still have a decent ankle to play football on now, because my ankle is messed up. Do I do my own DIY now? No, I don’t remember how and I don’t need to.
Off the bench in the 1990 FA Cup Final. First touch turned Pallister inside out and scored, a few minutes later volleyed in what looked like the winner, before Hughes equalised and took it to a replay. Do you think you should have started that match? Would you have won if you had?
Jimmy Moyes, via e-mail
I would like to have started the replay because Bobby Robson said that if I had started the replay he would have taken me to the World Cup in 1990. He would have seen that I was fit enough to start a game, so not starting is a hard thing to swallow. And I do genuinely believe that I should have started the replay but Steve Coppell had his ideas for what he wanted to do and I wasn’t going to argue with him. I had just come back from injury, but having scored two goals in the first game, I thought he might start me and play 4-4-2. I don’t know why he didn’t. Maybe he thought that would have meant changing things too much? It’s something that will always plague me because I was desperate to play.
How did you feel being part of the Arsenal side - and scoring a goal – as they beat us 3-0 and relegated us in 1993? You seemed to quite enjoy it at the time…
Tim, Crystal Palace fan
Everyone likes to say that I scored the goal that sent Palace down, but that’s bollocks. The thing is, when we were playing that game, Palace were virtually down anyway.
The thing is, I’m a professional footballer, you know, and my job is to score goals. If I was playing for Palace and it was the other way round it would been exactly the same. What am I supposed to do, miss a goal just because I’m playing against Palace? I love Palace, I’ll always love Palace, but scoring that goal felt great at the time because I was trying to improve my fitness for the FA Cup final a week later.
I could feel what he was getting at in his tone, so if that’s the way he wants to see it, then yes, I sent them down.
I was a ballboy at Arsenal back in 94/95. Do you remember using us as target practice before games while warming up at the North Bank?
Lloyd Major, via e-mail
I used to get up to all sorts of mischief when I was warming up – anything to have a bit of a laugh while you’re waiting for the match to start – and yeah, I did used to do that. I think I caught a couple of them, but hopefully they’re alright. They’ve obviously lived to tell the tale. I also used kick the ball up into the top tier of the North Bank, but I never hurt anyone.
There always seemed to be a bit of aggravation between you and Ken Monkou. Why?
Niall Biggs, Dublin
I don’t know why, but Ken always used to be a bit of a bully. He’d come in from the back and try to kick me and overpower me but I just wouldn’t take any rubbish from him. I used to give it to him back and because I was smaller than him I would dive into him. There are a lot of players I had needle with and it used to help me, it would spur me on. I used to look forward to playing against people like Ken Monkou, who wanted to dig you and kick you and try to elbow you, because that was part of it.
As a Chelsea fan I remember you having a good rapport with our supporters and taking the banter in your stride, which rarely happens nowadays. Do you feel that the game has started taking itself too seriously and lost some of its entertainment value?
Adam, Lancashire
Great question, great question. It’s funny because I was talking to someone about this the other day, and I did used to get stick at Chelsea. The thing with Chelsea fans is, I used to give it back when I got close to the touchline and at the end of the game I’d clap the Chelsea fans and they’d clap me back. But you’d go to places like Coventry, Southampton and Villa and they give you stick and then report you to the FA if you said something back. I was close to signing for Chelsea and their fans know that if I played for them I’d be just the same and they can appreciate that. That’s why even now, when I go to Chelsea to watch Shaun, I get on so well with the fans. Of course, there is less of it in the game now, because people take it too seriously and players don’t have as good a rapport with the fans. Because of money, there is such a distance between them now and it’s quite worrying. It’s a “us and them” situation and it shouldn’t be like that.
How did you feel after George Graham left Arsenal? What was your relationship with Bruce Rioch like?
Jayne Greaves, Leeds
I was disappointed in the way George Graham left, which I’d rather not go into, and I had a bad relationship with Bruce Rioch. The club was just too big for him, and he wasn’t for me. I did what I was told but he was picking me out just for the sake of it, trying to get his foothold in the dressing room, and I gave as good as I got. In the end I wanted to put myself on the transfer list because I didn’t want to play for him. You can’t go into training everyday and dislike somebody to the point of not wanting to look at him or train. How are you going to play football in that state of mind? Football is meant to be enjoyed. I hated it and I hated being anywhere near the guy.
Do The Wright Thing – better or worse than Andy Cole's single Outstanding?
Kevin Elliot, London
My one was much better than Andy Cole’s, but the less said about both the better. Does he know I think mine’s better? He does now!
Uri Gellar once famously said that he made you hit the post in Rome in the World Cup qualifier against Italy, to prevent riots between rival fans. Did you feel a mystical presence as you hit the ball?
Mike Springett, via e-mail
No. The thing is, if I’d seen Uri afterwards and he’d said that, I’d have knocked him out. If that is to be believed, then he denied me arguably my finest hour. It was my greatest game in an England shirt and he’s saying that. It’s bollocks. It hit the post because that’s the way it was meant to be, as is Vieri going up the other end and missing a header almost straight away. It had nothing to do with Uri Gellar or anybody else. He’s talking shit.
Do you look back on your England career and consider yourself lucky because you won so many caps after coming into the game late, or unlucky because you missed out on playing in a major championship finals?
Adam Spencer, via e-mail
Both. I’m unlucky that I missed out on all the major championships for one reason or another. As I mentioned earlier, I missed out in 1990 because Bobby didn’t think I was fit enough. I was on form in 1992 but for some reason Graham Taylor didn’t take me. We didn’t qualify in ‘94. In ‘96 Venables said he was going to bring me back but in the end he didn’t – and I know I would have scored the Golden Goal in the semi-final. I would have gone in ’98 but I missed out with a hamstring injury the week before the finals.
But I have to be pleased with the fact that I came into the game at 22, was playing for England at 26, and won 33 caps. I’ve got to be say, “Fucking hell, that’s unbelievable.”
When you broke the Arsenal goalscoring record, on the match day you took off your shirt revealing the Just Done It vest, but after scoring your first goal which didn't break the record but equalled it! What happened there, then?
Lewis Bartlett, via e-mail
When I look back at that incident, because of the excitement of the whole day, I love it. But the fact of the matter is, it would have been the most embarrassing moment in my whole life had I not scored a second goal. It was like premature ejaculation! Can you imagine if I’d taken but shirt off and not ended up breaking the record that day?! In the end I scored a hat-trick, but I wasn’t thinking straight at the time, because it was so in a moment. I’m just pleased I can laugh about it.
Burnley: why?
Bonky, London
That season [1999-2000] I had four clubs. I started at West Ham, went on loan to Nottingham Forest, signed for Celtic when Henrik got injured, then left Celtic and literally retired. Then my old coach from Crystal Palace Stan Ternent was at Burnley and he said: “For the last four months of the season why don’t you come down and see if you can help us get promotion?” Which we did.
Smiles in front of the camera aside, were you really pleased for Thierry Henry when he beat your Arsenal goalscoring record? Or were you cursing him in private?
Simon Burns, via e-mail
People say that because he broke my record, but I’m not going to curse Thierry. I always knew he would break the record if he stayed so I was always prepared for it. I never thought, “fucking hell, I wished he’d leave so that I still have the record.” I’ve done my bit. I’m the second greatest goalscorer in Arsenal’s history, I came into the game at 22 I was still scoring goals at 34. I can’t complain about what happens from here.
How do you think you and Henry would have worked as a partnership? Is he better than you were in your Arsenal days?
Sarah Stevenson, via e-mail
I think so, yes, in terms of natural, all-round ability, but I’m a different animal. We could have played together, and it would probably free him up to be even more brilliant outside the box and I’d always be in the box, because all I wanted to do was score goals. It’s like the other day – he put in a cross that I know I would be on the end of.
How was the best defender you ever played against? I heard you didn’t like playing against Sol Campbell because he never responded to your ‘chat’…
Liz, London
No, he never did, but I still scored goals against Sol. Des Walker, Martin Keown and Gary Pallister were all quick, strong and skilful, but if I had to pick one, I’d say Des was the hardest player to play against.
You’ve had a pretty prolific television career, but what show would you really like to host that you haven’t already? Mastermind? Newsnight? Bullseye?
Bill Evans, Lincoln
Ha, ha!! No, I’m finished doing those type of shows. I want to do more serious stuff, hard hitting, controversial documentaries or something, programmes that are going to say something and make a difference. But I would have like to do something like David Letterman’s show, that kind of thing.
Do things ever get our of hand on They Think It’s All Over? We only see what they show, but what don’t they show?
Micky, via e-mail
Yes. God, yes. It doesn’t get out of hand to the extent that people want to hit each other but some of the banter they cut out is brilliant. Jonathan [Ross] is amazing. His banter and quick-wittedness – I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s quite intimidating because he’s unbelievably sharp.
Who’s idea was it to make up with Peter Schmeichel: yours, his or the BBC’s? And are you really friends now or were you at each other’s throats when the cameras stopped rolling?
Dave Broderick, via e-mail
We made up a week after the actual incident. We met up and shook hands and we wanted to do it in public but between the two clubs and their lawyers it took a while. That’s why it wasn’t a problem to work on the BBC together. We play golf together, I’ve been out and stayed in Portugal with him. It was just two players at the top of their game who didn’t want to give an inch. He’s a goalkeeper, I’m a striker – natural enemies – it was perfect for the tabloids. But it’s water under the bridge and we’re good friends now.
Place these partnerships in order: Wright and Bright, Wright and Bergkamp, Henry and Bergkamp…
Madan Sheina, San Francisco, California
I’d have to put Henry and Bergkamp at the top, but they’re not a million miles away from me and Bergkamp. Dennis can make anybody great – he definitely did that with me. Me and Brighty would have to be third unfortunately, but no-one would begrudge me that.
Chicken Tonight or Privilege Insurance: which advert do you prefer and why? Are there any adverts you refused to do? If so, what are they and why?
Chris Burnett, Reading
Chicken Tonight was great because it was a good laugh but I’d have to say I preferred Privilege because I’m passionate about golf and Joanna Lumley is an amazing lady and a great actress – pure class.
I don’t know if I’d advertise alcohol – it depends how much money they are paying me! – and I’d never ever advertise cigarettes.
What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored?
Andrew Wright, Runcorn
My second goal against Everton in 1993. Flick, flick, flick, I was in a flicking move. I flicked all over the place. Then I flicked it over the goaly as well. It was Neville Southall’s face that did it for me.
Which team did you most enjoy scoring against and why?
Nick Evans, via e-mail
Southampton, because I hated their fans. Coventry and Villa were really horrible as well. Like I said, they didn’t clap you after the game, they wanted to report you to the authorities and that’s not what the game’s about.
Spurs fans were always good. They gave me and my family loads of stick, but I never met a Tottenham fan in the street who said: “you c**t”, “you wanker” or anything. Tottenham fans actually said that out of the Arsenal players, me and Tony Adams were the players they’d have playing for Tottenham so I’m quite pleased with that.
How much of a culture shock was playing for Celtic? Was the support madder than you expected?
Gill Keane, Glasgow
Yes it was. It was a little bit too intense for me at that stage in my career, but I can respect it. It was unbelievable. It is the greatest supported club in the world, they’re amazing supporters and it was a privilege to play for them. They were great.
As one of several Englishmen in a successful Arsenal team, how do you feel about the lack of Englishmen in Arsene Wenger’s current squad and the criticism he’s come in for recently?
Gökhan Uzelli, Turkey
Very disappointed. I think that’s natural – I was a Londoner playing for a London club. This is the way it’s going unfortunately, but you’d like to see some English players playing for the top teams because eventually it’s going to affect the England national team, which is worrying.
You’re an Arsenal legend, Shaun’s an Arsenal fan – how disappointed are you he didn’t end up at Highbury? Why didn’t he? And did he ask for your advice?
Jim Hazell, via e-mail
He asked me for my advice. I told him “Arsenal’s a great club, but going to Chelsea’s not going to be a bad move for you.” Chelsea were the champions. “You are going to the champions, like I joined the champions when I went to Arsenal.” And now he’s a champion. Ok, he’s played a little role in that, but the fact is he’s good enough to play for Chelsea. Shaun’s a big man and when it came down to it, it was his decision. People come up to me and say, “you let him go to Chelsea and look, he’s not playing.” But it would have been easier to follow in my footsteps and join Arsenal, but I’m proud of the fact that he wanted to do his own thing, even though he knew it would be hard for him to get in the team. Fancy having the choice of Arsenal and Chelsea – and I’m sure Man United would have been in there as well if he hadn’t come from City. But Chelsea showed their intentions by putting up the money and he doesn’t have any regrets.
Poor old Steve Ogrizovic. As if his nose wasn’t already wonky enough, you went and broke it again in 1997. Was there any intent?
Vicky Green, via e-mail
Yeah, tell Steve I’m really sorry I messed up his career as a Hollywood actor! There wasn’t any intent and if you look at the incident, Sky showed it from every angle and slowed it down, everything they could to indict me for something I didn’t do. I wasn’t friendly with any goalkeeper apart from David Seaman, but I shook their hands afterwards. I went in for challenge with him and that’s it. That’s what I’m saying about Coventry fans – they had to find something to blame me for, but I don’t care.
You seem like an impulsive character who wears his heart on his sleeve. Do you look back and cringe at or regret anything? Cuffing David Howells? Slagging off Sven? Friday Night’s All Wright?
Gary Brown, via e-mail
I don’t regret anything. Friday Night’s All Wright is one the best things I’ll ever do because I met some of the biggest stars in the world. Slagging off Sven was my personal opinion as a football fan. I apologised for some of the personal, unprintable stuff that they ran. What was the other one? Oh yeah, me and David Howells are mates now – it happened in the heat of the moment. I’m a passionate man but I’m not impulsive to the point of thinking, “Shit, why did I say that?” If I do anything bad, I’ll apologise and move on.
You’ve said Sven lacks the passion to be England manager. Judging by your punditry, you don’t. Fancy the job?
Jamie O'Sullivan, via e-mail
That’s a really good question, because the thing is, if I had the tactical ability to be a manager I would be, because I have the passion. So by being and England fan and a television pundit, I get the best of both worlds. It means the world to me for England to do well because I’ve always watched England and loved England and wanted to play for England. Now I just want to support England, which is why I think Sure’s FanZone is such a good idea. I am inconsolable when we lose, so I’m not going to sit there and try and say everything’s great and try and look happy when I’m not. I won’t do that – you know what I mean?! Like any fan, I hate it when we lose and love it when we win.
From the July 2006 issue. Interview by Louis Massarella, photographs Leo Csernohlavek
From the July 2006 issue
From the wholehearted football showman to the unashamedly patriotic pundit, via the loud-suited television presenter, Ian Wright doesn’t do quiet. Take today, for instance. Having just finished shooting a television advert for Sure at a North London studio, ‘Wrighty’ gurns and gesticulates his way through a seemingly endless series of television interviews, each more enthusiastically than the last. The only worry for FourFourTwo is that the ex-Crystal Palace, Arsenal and England striker will be tired and grouchy by the time he comes to face your questions. But as he bounds over, wearing a white boiler suit (like you do) our worries are soon put to rest. “Readers' questions, is it?” he says, clapping his hands together and looking typically ‘up for it’. “Let’s do this…”
Who did you support as a kid and why? And who were your heroes?
Billy Williams, via e-mail
I supported Millwall as a kid and I will always support Millwall because they were my local team and the first football match I was taken to was at the Old Den. My heroes were players like Barry Kitchener, Dave Mehmet, John Seasman, Micky Johns and Phil Walker. Never heard of them? I’ll let you off.
My son never believes me when I tell him I once played against you in a cup final. It was in the mid-80s, a Greenwich and Lewisham Sunday league cup final at Fisher Athletic's ground, I think you beat us 4-1. Do you remember it? And can you just tell him his old man could play football once!
Rob Wells, via e-mail
Well obviously I can’t remember him exactly, but I do remember playing a final at Fisher. You’ve got to understand that a lot of people have come up to me and said they played against me when I was playing Sunday League football. But I do remember the game so I most probably did play against him. I think I did scored as well!
You came to professional football late. Did you think you’d missed your chance?
Lee Harvey, Exeter
Yes, all the time. I was just a normal boy from South London who loved football and I tried to get into the professional game from the age of about 12 but for whatever reason it just wasn’t happening. I went to trials and didn’t get in, went to more trials and still didn’t get in. I went to Brighton when I was 19 and they turned me down, but I kept going and in the end I went to Palace at 21 and they signed me.
I don’t know why the other clubs didn’t take me. I thought I was a good player when I was younger. I was quick, scored goals, could use both feet – everything. I can only put it down to the fact that I was quite small and skinny.
What would you be up to now if you hadn’t made it as a footballer?
Neville Andrews, via e-mail
To be honest, I would most probably be doing something in the building trade – a plasterer or a bricklayer, something like that – because that’s what I was training to do. I was just getting into it when I finally got my break football and all of a sudden I didn’t need to do it anymore, so I just moved on. I would have most probably stuck with that and just played Sunday football – and I’d probably still have a decent ankle to play football on now, because my ankle is messed up. Do I do my own DIY now? No, I don’t remember how and I don’t need to.
Off the bench in the 1990 FA Cup Final. First touch turned Pallister inside out and scored, a few minutes later volleyed in what looked like the winner, before Hughes equalised and took it to a replay. Do you think you should have started that match? Would you have won if you had?
Jimmy Moyes, via e-mail
I would like to have started the replay because Bobby Robson said that if I had started the replay he would have taken me to the World Cup in 1990. He would have seen that I was fit enough to start a game, so not starting is a hard thing to swallow. And I do genuinely believe that I should have started the replay but Steve Coppell had his ideas for what he wanted to do and I wasn’t going to argue with him. I had just come back from injury, but having scored two goals in the first game, I thought he might start me and play 4-4-2. I don’t know why he didn’t. Maybe he thought that would have meant changing things too much? It’s something that will always plague me because I was desperate to play.
How did you feel being part of the Arsenal side - and scoring a goal – as they beat us 3-0 and relegated us in 1993? You seemed to quite enjoy it at the time…
Tim, Crystal Palace fan
Everyone likes to say that I scored the goal that sent Palace down, but that’s bollocks. The thing is, when we were playing that game, Palace were virtually down anyway.
The thing is, I’m a professional footballer, you know, and my job is to score goals. If I was playing for Palace and it was the other way round it would been exactly the same. What am I supposed to do, miss a goal just because I’m playing against Palace? I love Palace, I’ll always love Palace, but scoring that goal felt great at the time because I was trying to improve my fitness for the FA Cup final a week later.
I could feel what he was getting at in his tone, so if that’s the way he wants to see it, then yes, I sent them down.
I was a ballboy at Arsenal back in 94/95. Do you remember using us as target practice before games while warming up at the North Bank?
Lloyd Major, via e-mail
I used to get up to all sorts of mischief when I was warming up – anything to have a bit of a laugh while you’re waiting for the match to start – and yeah, I did used to do that. I think I caught a couple of them, but hopefully they’re alright. They’ve obviously lived to tell the tale. I also used kick the ball up into the top tier of the North Bank, but I never hurt anyone.
There always seemed to be a bit of aggravation between you and Ken Monkou. Why?
Niall Biggs, Dublin
I don’t know why, but Ken always used to be a bit of a bully. He’d come in from the back and try to kick me and overpower me but I just wouldn’t take any rubbish from him. I used to give it to him back and because I was smaller than him I would dive into him. There are a lot of players I had needle with and it used to help me, it would spur me on. I used to look forward to playing against people like Ken Monkou, who wanted to dig you and kick you and try to elbow you, because that was part of it.
As a Chelsea fan I remember you having a good rapport with our supporters and taking the banter in your stride, which rarely happens nowadays. Do you feel that the game has started taking itself too seriously and lost some of its entertainment value?
Adam, Lancashire
Great question, great question. It’s funny because I was talking to someone about this the other day, and I did used to get stick at Chelsea. The thing with Chelsea fans is, I used to give it back when I got close to the touchline and at the end of the game I’d clap the Chelsea fans and they’d clap me back. But you’d go to places like Coventry, Southampton and Villa and they give you stick and then report you to the FA if you said something back. I was close to signing for Chelsea and their fans know that if I played for them I’d be just the same and they can appreciate that. That’s why even now, when I go to Chelsea to watch Shaun, I get on so well with the fans. Of course, there is less of it in the game now, because people take it too seriously and players don’t have as good a rapport with the fans. Because of money, there is such a distance between them now and it’s quite worrying. It’s a “us and them” situation and it shouldn’t be like that.
How did you feel after George Graham left Arsenal? What was your relationship with Bruce Rioch like?
Jayne Greaves, Leeds
I was disappointed in the way George Graham left, which I’d rather not go into, and I had a bad relationship with Bruce Rioch. The club was just too big for him, and he wasn’t for me. I did what I was told but he was picking me out just for the sake of it, trying to get his foothold in the dressing room, and I gave as good as I got. In the end I wanted to put myself on the transfer list because I didn’t want to play for him. You can’t go into training everyday and dislike somebody to the point of not wanting to look at him or train. How are you going to play football in that state of mind? Football is meant to be enjoyed. I hated it and I hated being anywhere near the guy.
Do The Wright Thing – better or worse than Andy Cole's single Outstanding?
Kevin Elliot, London
My one was much better than Andy Cole’s, but the less said about both the better. Does he know I think mine’s better? He does now!
Uri Gellar once famously said that he made you hit the post in Rome in the World Cup qualifier against Italy, to prevent riots between rival fans. Did you feel a mystical presence as you hit the ball?
Mike Springett, via e-mail
No. The thing is, if I’d seen Uri afterwards and he’d said that, I’d have knocked him out. If that is to be believed, then he denied me arguably my finest hour. It was my greatest game in an England shirt and he’s saying that. It’s bollocks. It hit the post because that’s the way it was meant to be, as is Vieri going up the other end and missing a header almost straight away. It had nothing to do with Uri Gellar or anybody else. He’s talking shit.
Do you look back on your England career and consider yourself lucky because you won so many caps after coming into the game late, or unlucky because you missed out on playing in a major championship finals?
Adam Spencer, via e-mail
Both. I’m unlucky that I missed out on all the major championships for one reason or another. As I mentioned earlier, I missed out in 1990 because Bobby didn’t think I was fit enough. I was on form in 1992 but for some reason Graham Taylor didn’t take me. We didn’t qualify in ‘94. In ‘96 Venables said he was going to bring me back but in the end he didn’t – and I know I would have scored the Golden Goal in the semi-final. I would have gone in ’98 but I missed out with a hamstring injury the week before the finals.
But I have to be pleased with the fact that I came into the game at 22, was playing for England at 26, and won 33 caps. I’ve got to be say, “Fucking hell, that’s unbelievable.”
When you broke the Arsenal goalscoring record, on the match day you took off your shirt revealing the Just Done It vest, but after scoring your first goal which didn't break the record but equalled it! What happened there, then?
Lewis Bartlett, via e-mail
When I look back at that incident, because of the excitement of the whole day, I love it. But the fact of the matter is, it would have been the most embarrassing moment in my whole life had I not scored a second goal. It was like premature ejaculation! Can you imagine if I’d taken but shirt off and not ended up breaking the record that day?! In the end I scored a hat-trick, but I wasn’t thinking straight at the time, because it was so in a moment. I’m just pleased I can laugh about it.
Burnley: why?
Bonky, London
That season [1999-2000] I had four clubs. I started at West Ham, went on loan to Nottingham Forest, signed for Celtic when Henrik got injured, then left Celtic and literally retired. Then my old coach from Crystal Palace Stan Ternent was at Burnley and he said: “For the last four months of the season why don’t you come down and see if you can help us get promotion?” Which we did.
Smiles in front of the camera aside, were you really pleased for Thierry Henry when he beat your Arsenal goalscoring record? Or were you cursing him in private?
Simon Burns, via e-mail
People say that because he broke my record, but I’m not going to curse Thierry. I always knew he would break the record if he stayed so I was always prepared for it. I never thought, “fucking hell, I wished he’d leave so that I still have the record.” I’ve done my bit. I’m the second greatest goalscorer in Arsenal’s history, I came into the game at 22 I was still scoring goals at 34. I can’t complain about what happens from here.
How do you think you and Henry would have worked as a partnership? Is he better than you were in your Arsenal days?
Sarah Stevenson, via e-mail
I think so, yes, in terms of natural, all-round ability, but I’m a different animal. We could have played together, and it would probably free him up to be even more brilliant outside the box and I’d always be in the box, because all I wanted to do was score goals. It’s like the other day – he put in a cross that I know I would be on the end of.
How was the best defender you ever played against? I heard you didn’t like playing against Sol Campbell because he never responded to your ‘chat’…
Liz, London
No, he never did, but I still scored goals against Sol. Des Walker, Martin Keown and Gary Pallister were all quick, strong and skilful, but if I had to pick one, I’d say Des was the hardest player to play against.
You’ve had a pretty prolific television career, but what show would you really like to host that you haven’t already? Mastermind? Newsnight? Bullseye?
Bill Evans, Lincoln
Ha, ha!! No, I’m finished doing those type of shows. I want to do more serious stuff, hard hitting, controversial documentaries or something, programmes that are going to say something and make a difference. But I would have like to do something like David Letterman’s show, that kind of thing.
Do things ever get our of hand on They Think It’s All Over? We only see what they show, but what don’t they show?
Micky, via e-mail
Yes. God, yes. It doesn’t get out of hand to the extent that people want to hit each other but some of the banter they cut out is brilliant. Jonathan [Ross] is amazing. His banter and quick-wittedness – I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s quite intimidating because he’s unbelievably sharp.
Who’s idea was it to make up with Peter Schmeichel: yours, his or the BBC’s? And are you really friends now or were you at each other’s throats when the cameras stopped rolling?
Dave Broderick, via e-mail
We made up a week after the actual incident. We met up and shook hands and we wanted to do it in public but between the two clubs and their lawyers it took a while. That’s why it wasn’t a problem to work on the BBC together. We play golf together, I’ve been out and stayed in Portugal with him. It was just two players at the top of their game who didn’t want to give an inch. He’s a goalkeeper, I’m a striker – natural enemies – it was perfect for the tabloids. But it’s water under the bridge and we’re good friends now.
Place these partnerships in order: Wright and Bright, Wright and Bergkamp, Henry and Bergkamp…
Madan Sheina, San Francisco, California
I’d have to put Henry and Bergkamp at the top, but they’re not a million miles away from me and Bergkamp. Dennis can make anybody great – he definitely did that with me. Me and Brighty would have to be third unfortunately, but no-one would begrudge me that.
Chicken Tonight or Privilege Insurance: which advert do you prefer and why? Are there any adverts you refused to do? If so, what are they and why?
Chris Burnett, Reading
Chicken Tonight was great because it was a good laugh but I’d have to say I preferred Privilege because I’m passionate about golf and Joanna Lumley is an amazing lady and a great actress – pure class.
I don’t know if I’d advertise alcohol – it depends how much money they are paying me! – and I’d never ever advertise cigarettes.
What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored?
Andrew Wright, Runcorn
My second goal against Everton in 1993. Flick, flick, flick, I was in a flicking move. I flicked all over the place. Then I flicked it over the goaly as well. It was Neville Southall’s face that did it for me.
Which team did you most enjoy scoring against and why?
Nick Evans, via e-mail
Southampton, because I hated their fans. Coventry and Villa were really horrible as well. Like I said, they didn’t clap you after the game, they wanted to report you to the authorities and that’s not what the game’s about.
Spurs fans were always good. They gave me and my family loads of stick, but I never met a Tottenham fan in the street who said: “you c**t”, “you wanker” or anything. Tottenham fans actually said that out of the Arsenal players, me and Tony Adams were the players they’d have playing for Tottenham so I’m quite pleased with that.
How much of a culture shock was playing for Celtic? Was the support madder than you expected?
Gill Keane, Glasgow
Yes it was. It was a little bit too intense for me at that stage in my career, but I can respect it. It was unbelievable. It is the greatest supported club in the world, they’re amazing supporters and it was a privilege to play for them. They were great.
As one of several Englishmen in a successful Arsenal team, how do you feel about the lack of Englishmen in Arsene Wenger’s current squad and the criticism he’s come in for recently?
Gökhan Uzelli, Turkey
Very disappointed. I think that’s natural – I was a Londoner playing for a London club. This is the way it’s going unfortunately, but you’d like to see some English players playing for the top teams because eventually it’s going to affect the England national team, which is worrying.
You’re an Arsenal legend, Shaun’s an Arsenal fan – how disappointed are you he didn’t end up at Highbury? Why didn’t he? And did he ask for your advice?
Jim Hazell, via e-mail
He asked me for my advice. I told him “Arsenal’s a great club, but going to Chelsea’s not going to be a bad move for you.” Chelsea were the champions. “You are going to the champions, like I joined the champions when I went to Arsenal.” And now he’s a champion. Ok, he’s played a little role in that, but the fact is he’s good enough to play for Chelsea. Shaun’s a big man and when it came down to it, it was his decision. People come up to me and say, “you let him go to Chelsea and look, he’s not playing.” But it would have been easier to follow in my footsteps and join Arsenal, but I’m proud of the fact that he wanted to do his own thing, even though he knew it would be hard for him to get in the team. Fancy having the choice of Arsenal and Chelsea – and I’m sure Man United would have been in there as well if he hadn’t come from City. But Chelsea showed their intentions by putting up the money and he doesn’t have any regrets.
Poor old Steve Ogrizovic. As if his nose wasn’t already wonky enough, you went and broke it again in 1997. Was there any intent?
Vicky Green, via e-mail
Yeah, tell Steve I’m really sorry I messed up his career as a Hollywood actor! There wasn’t any intent and if you look at the incident, Sky showed it from every angle and slowed it down, everything they could to indict me for something I didn’t do. I wasn’t friendly with any goalkeeper apart from David Seaman, but I shook their hands afterwards. I went in for challenge with him and that’s it. That’s what I’m saying about Coventry fans – they had to find something to blame me for, but I don’t care.
You seem like an impulsive character who wears his heart on his sleeve. Do you look back and cringe at or regret anything? Cuffing David Howells? Slagging off Sven? Friday Night’s All Wright?
Gary Brown, via e-mail
I don’t regret anything. Friday Night’s All Wright is one the best things I’ll ever do because I met some of the biggest stars in the world. Slagging off Sven was my personal opinion as a football fan. I apologised for some of the personal, unprintable stuff that they ran. What was the other one? Oh yeah, me and David Howells are mates now – it happened in the heat of the moment. I’m a passionate man but I’m not impulsive to the point of thinking, “Shit, why did I say that?” If I do anything bad, I’ll apologise and move on.
You’ve said Sven lacks the passion to be England manager. Judging by your punditry, you don’t. Fancy the job?
Jamie O'Sullivan, via e-mail
That’s a really good question, because the thing is, if I had the tactical ability to be a manager I would be, because I have the passion. So by being and England fan and a television pundit, I get the best of both worlds. It means the world to me for England to do well because I’ve always watched England and loved England and wanted to play for England. Now I just want to support England, which is why I think Sure’s FanZone is such a good idea. I am inconsolable when we lose, so I’m not going to sit there and try and say everything’s great and try and look happy when I’m not. I won’t do that – you know what I mean?! Like any fan, I hate it when we lose and love it when we win.
From the July 2006 issue. Interview by Louis Massarella, photographs Leo Csernohlavek