Northern Ireland v Greece (02/06/2022)

THE COACH: GREECE

WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

Greece boss Gus Poyet will be familiar to many Northern Ireland fans having both played and managed in the Premier League. A prolific midfielder during his playing days, Poyet spent seven years with La Liga side Real Zaragoza in the 1990s and he started the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final when Nayim’s famous long range strike in extra time earned the Spanish side victory over Arsenal . Poyet moved to Chelsea on a free transfer in 1997 and became a key figure in teams that won the FA Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup, Charity Shield and Super Cup. It was Poyet’s late goal against Real Madrid in Monaco that earned the Blues that Super Cup victory. The Uruguayan joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 and then transitioned into the coaching ranks as a player-assistant manager at Swindon Town alongside his ex-Chelsea team-mate Dennis Wise. Poyet was the number two to Wise at both Swindon and Leeds United, and he later occupied the role of first team coach at Spurs during Juande Ramos’ time in charge at White Hart Lane. In November 2009 Poyet landed his first managerial gig with Brighton and Hove Albion, who were then struggling in League One. The Seagulls won promotion to the Championship in Poyet’s first full season in charge and after guiding them to a top half finish in the next campaign Brighton made the play-offs the year after, only to lose to rivals Crystal Palace in the semi-finals. Poyet was relieved of his duties after that campaign – news which he said was broken to him by a BBC staff member while he worked as a pundit during the Confederations Cup – and the following October he became the first Uruguayan

to manager in the Premier League when he was appointed Sunderland boss. The Black Cats were rock bottom of the table but Poyet led them to safety, having also guided them to a League Cup final during that campaign. Sunderland parted company with him in March 2015 following a run of just one victory in 12 Premier League games. He has since had spells with clubs in Greece, Spain, China, France and Chile before being appointed the national team boss of Greece in February 2022. • Poyet made 187 appearances in the Premier League for both Chelsea and Spurs, more than any other Uruguayan has managed in the competition. • Among his fellow countrymen only Luis Suarez (69) has scored more top flight goals in England than Poyet’s 54. • He won the 1995 Copa America with Uruguay as they beat then World Cup holders Brazil on penalties in the final in Montevideo. • Poyet’s son Diego also enjoyed a career in England, playing for Charlton Athletic, West Ham United, Huddersfield Town and Milton Keynes Dons, while representing both the Three Lions and Uruguay at youth level .

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