In this episode of SuperSport Unplugged, former England international Emile Heskey shares his insights on a range of topics. Heskey discusses the optimal way to utilize Phil Foden for the England national team, drawing on his experience to suggest strategies for maximizing the young player's impact.
Additionally, Heskey recounts a humorous and memorable anecdote about his first call-up to the England squad, providing a behind-the-scenes look at his early days with the team. He also explains why Gary Neville wouldn't make it into his ideal five-a-side team, offering a candid and personal perspective on his choices.
Heskey believes the gap between the so-called “big teams and small teams” has closed and
“When you look at when I was playing, a team like Georgia they will be nowhere near it. But now they have players that are outstanding, players in top Italian teams and doing really well. Look Spain is Spain and will outplay them but they cause all sorts of problems.
“The problem is that we all think we are still in the 80s, 90s and 2000s and you coming up against these nations and thinking I have never heard about them, they don’t have too many great players, no everybody is coming to win and they play some really good football,” said Hesky.
CAREER AND RISE AT LEICESTER AND LIVERPOOL
Heskey began his professional journey with his hometown club, Leicester City, debuting in 1995. His combination of strength, speed, and technical skill quickly made him a standout player. Heskey played a crucial role in Leicester's promotion to the Premier League in 1996 and their League Cup victories in 1997 and 2000. His performances at Leicester earned him a move to Liverpool in 2000 for a then club-record fee of £11 million.
At Liverpool, Heskey enjoyed one of the most successful periods of his career. He formed a formidable partnership with Michael Owen, helping Liverpool win a historic treble in the 2000-01 season, which included the FA Cup, League Cup, and Uefa Cup.
Heskey's ability to hold up the ball and create opportunities for his teammates was invaluable. He scored 60 goals in 223 appearances for the club, demonstrating his importance to the team's attacking prowess.
Reflecting on the current England squad at the Euro 2024, Heskey says it has been a tough season for some players. “Again this is one of the key things – the weight of expectations on you. When you come out of a season that has been record breaking,” he said.
On England’s performance at Euro 2024, Heskey believes the results do not lie. “If you win the tournament the history books will not say ‘yes but they were boring…’ they are just going to say they won the tournament,” said Heskey.
“It’s going to be tough to penetrate Switzerland and they are very quick on the break. You have to be focused on both ends of the pitch. How do I see it going? I am always going to back England but as the tournament shows, you don’t know what you are going to get,” Heskey said.
Today, Heskey remains involved in football through various media and coaching roles, sharing his experience and insights with the next generation of players. His legacy as a hardworking, team-oriented striker endures, highlighting the importance of selflessness and determination in football.