Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Stan Lazaridis

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Stan Lazaridis

Lazaridis on the League Cup Final in 2001…

Diegos: "Recently you lived out an Aussie schoolboy dream when you walked out on to Millennium stadium in Wales for Birmingham against Liverpool in the English League Cup final.

It was a game were you sparkled amongst celebrated company but unfortunately 'The Birmingham Blues' in the end failed to lift the cup, losing tragically in a penalty shoot out against those 'Spice Boys' from Anfield.

Stan, in the past we've laughed, loved and cried together.

How are you feeling? Are you over the disappointment?"

Lazaridis: " It was a big achievement for a club like Birmingham to reach the final and beat teams like Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich along the way.

To meet Liverpool in the final and take them to 120 minutes of football only to lose on penalties when no one really gave us a chance was something we're really proud of. We can’t forget there was an incident in the second half where we should have been given a penalty but the decision didn’t go our way so I suppose, we were a bit unfortunate in that respect."

Diegos: "The Diegos have spent all of five minutes analyzing the game and we can categorically confirm that you were robbed.

A dodgy non-penalty decision in extra time going against you; the Liverpool keeper, Westerveld moving before the kick in the penalty shoot out; the ref letting your opponent Marcus Babbel foul you at will…yep, there's no bloody doubt about it, it was daylight robbery.

How does the Birmingham camp feel about it?

Lazaridis: " All of the supporters and the management are really angry about it. Being a cup final it was probably one of the biggest games in the last fifty years for Birmingham.

To lose the game with a decision like that it really does hurt. We couldn’t have given any more than we did. There was just nothing left in the tank to give. So a loss like that was tragic. But we really did give Liverpool a bit of a shock. We have to use this a stepping stone toward promotion and the way things are going I think this could be the year for the Blues."

Diegos: "Most of the experts like talking about the game - the tactics, the turning point, the match winners etc. Not the Diegos.

What we want to know is whether you got to kiss the Duchess in the introductions before the game? Whether you got a special hair cut for the occasion? Did you go for the up market deodorant and aftershave?"

Lazaridis: " We got these designer suits that were meant to be Hugo Boss but they weren’t. They ended up being 'Gianni Vialli' or something a little cheaper. We got new suits, new sunglasses and socks.

We all had to wear the same thing for luck but that didn’t work. We didn’t get to kiss anyone special either but the dancing later on that night I can assure you was of a different class."

Diegos: "In the penalty shoot you brilliantly slotted away Birmingham's third goal to make it 3-3.

Did you volunteer or did they have to drag you kicking and screaming to take it? What were you thinking about when you were standing over the ball, facing the goalkeeper?"

Lazaridis: "It was a bit scary. So scary that I reckon I had to change my underpants afterwards.

Because I’m one of the more experienced players in the team I really wanted to take it because I felt it was my duty on the day. The whole experience is very nerve racking. 

Your legs literally go to jelly. When I looked up to take the kick all I could see was a sea of red Liverpool supporters cursing me. So as you can imagine, it's not an easy situation to be in."

Diegos: "Your manager, Trevor Francis is an emotional man.

Reports have it that he shed a tear after the game.

Did he have the boys practicing their penalty shots this week or was he quite positive about the whole experience?"

Lazaridis: "In the end, Trevor was very emotional. He just wanted to take the team to the final. He is a very loyal 'Blue Nose', as they call him here and I guess the emotion did get to him in

Soft Sombrero Moment March 2001

Lazaridis on Club versus Country disputes…

Diegos: "Not only is Francis an emotional man but he also has shown that he struggles with the concept that you are an integral part of the Socceroos.

His response to your selection for the Australian Olympic squad during Sydney 2000 was, 'what do they need to pick Stan for? Haven't they got enough players in Australia?'

Since that insightful appraisal, has he warmed to the idea of you being a Socceroo?"

Lazaridis: "It is a difficult subject over here. He has his mind set on promotion and wants his eleven players here when he picks them.

So whenever there is an Australian game he doesn’t want me go, which is very positive from my point of view because he values me as a player. But my duty will be to my country particularly when there are qualifiers to be played."

Soft Sombrero Moment March 2001

Lazaridis on those transfer rumours…

Diegos: "The Diegos are hearing rumours that Middlesborough are ready to make a bid for you.

Schwarzer, Okon, Venables and Lazaridis, we reckon is a formidable Aussie Rat Pack.

Any truth to the rumours?

Lazaridis: "There is always going to be talk, but at the end of the day it is up to Birmingham whether they want to sell me or not. At the moment there are no bidders because I’m not leaving Birmingham.

If Middlesborough come in with a bid and Birmingham get promoted why would I leave Birmingham. It’s a huge club and I’m really happy here."

Soft Sombrero Moment March 2001

Lazaridis reflecting on his career in English footy…

Diegos: " Congratulations on your well earned star status at West Ham. It was last season where you launched the English tabloids into orbit with a great performance against Wimbledon, that prompted creative headlines like- 'Wham Bam Thank You Stan.”- in the ‘The Daily Star’ and “ Lazaridis raises West Ham from dead”- in the ‘The Times’.

In April last year you also secured a lucrative five- year contract with West Ham.

After years of marauding up and down those Upton Park flanks, do you think that you have finally established yourself in English soccer?"

Lazaridis: " Yes, l think I've finally settled. I think settling is important especially in the West Ham team. The competition is very hard and week-to-week it always changes.

In general, I've established myself within the league and most of the other clubs are aware of who l am and what l can do. That's important to me because it took a lot of hard work to get to that level. You never really secure a position in the team though.

The way the game is over here now, a lot of teams rotate players to rest them, prevent injuries and for team balance. As far as establishing myself, this season has been very positive in that sense."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Lazaridis on Upton Park a haven for Aussie backpackers…

Diegos: "The rumour is that Upton Park, West Ham's home ground is rapidly replacing Earl's Court as a haven for Aussie soccer's backpackers. At last count four Aussies were cleaning your boots as apprentices at the club - Chris and James Coyne, Steve Laurie and Michael Ferrante.

Have you taken on the role as their self appointed mentor and father figure and have they been behaving themselves?"

Lazaridis: " They're good young boys but they do need someone to talk to.  I've tried to make their transition from Australia to England more comfortable.

They know if they've got any problems they can come to me for a chat. Chris Coyne is starting to establish himself now and the other younger boys are also doing well. You always need a hand when it comes to agents and things like that.

At the start of your career this is very important because it can either make you or break you. I wish l had a mentor when l was 16 or 17 years old. Hopefully l can help them because l think it's good if they can make it as well."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Lazaridis on Country versus Country issues…

Diegos: " It was recently reported that some of our young Aussie talent in England are being put under pressure by English clubs not to represent Australia but instead put their hand up to play for the country of their parent's birth.

Leeds United Youth Academy director of coaching - Alan Hill has openly come out and stated that it is pointless signing Australian players if they choose to play for Australia. The word is the ultimatum given to our young boys is that if you play for Australia, we won't sign you.

This is worrying for the future of Aussie soccer. What's your view?"

Lazaridis: " I think it is very worrying but when you're 16 or 17 years old and you want to get a contract in the English league, I think you'll do almost anything. You sometimes forget about the country at times.

You're young, naive and really don't know what's going on. In that situation, the parents have got to have a big influence in any decision-making. I am happy that l play for Australia and l wouldn't change that for anything but when you're a teenager and a club gives you a chance to become a multi millionaire and play in the big time, the issue becomes complicated. I don't think this situation should ever occur.

I don't understand why Leeds or any other club, should put that sort of pressure on any kid."

Diegos: " Have you got any advice for any young Aussie in this situation?"

Lazaridis: " If l was 14 or 15 years old, l would hold off committing my self to another country. The chances of playing for Australia are far greater than playing for England.

There are many millions of kids over here who are very good players, so the competition is very hot. Often you can represent Australia in a World cup at any level and if you do well, you will still get very good opportunities to play professionally overseas. 

Effectively the stage can be still set for you without having to compromise yourself. If Australia's given you 14 or 15 years of soccer education, l believe that is owed back to it as well."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Lazaridis on partying at West Ham…

Diegos: "The word on the Four Diegos 'Rumour Fax' is that the West Ham Christmas Party this year was a particularly boisterous one, with both your team mates, Neil Ruddock and Trevor Sinclair exchanging gifts with the local constabulary.

Do you find that because of the high physical demands and stresses of their profession in England, professional soccer players tend to overcompensate and sometimes party too hard when given time off?"

Lazaridis: " This year's Christmas party was held in three separate locations. Everyone was really well behaved in each of the three locations. Where things got a bit rowdy was on the walk from one place to another place.

I think many of the media reports were over-exaggerated though. The opportunities for the lads to get out are minimal and therefore when they do get out, in some instances, some players may go a bit further than what they should do."

Diegos: " When you slip on the disco gear for a night out on the town do you find that you have to be careful because of all the media scrutiny, how you conduct yourself in public?"

Lazaridis: " Very much so. The night before a game for example, l would never go out my front door because a glass of orange juice could be construed as vodka and orange or getting home at 9.30pm could suddenly be seen as being home at 11.00 or 12.30pm.

Any stories of players not doing the right thing always funnily enough, seem to get back to the manager. You just try to avoid the situation were you can.

Fortunately enough for me, l had Raul Blanco as a coach, who was very strict and taught me things that have helped me prepare myself for professional football. I look back and l thank Raul for all that."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Lazaridis on West Ham training…

Diegos: " Earlier this season the world caught a glimpse of how competitive and cut throat West Ham training sessions are, when we witnessed the Hammer's Welsh striker, John Hartson mistake his team mate, Eyal Berkovic's head for a soccer ball and tried to put it into the top corner of the net.

Do you sometimes get scared to go to training? How competitive is it?"

Lazaridis: " That should never have happened and to be honest, that was the first time anything like that has happened since I've been at the club. We had lost the previous week and both players are very passionate players and unfortunately, the emotions ran wild.

It’s a tough thing over here because everyone is competing and there is a lot of pressure. There is no excuse for what John Hartson did. He has apologized and l assure you Diegos, training is not like that every week. It's not as if we have to go dressed as gridiron players to training but sometimes things do go over the top.

It's a man's game, l suppose."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Lazaridis on Australia’s World Cup qualifying route for the 2002 World Cup…

Diegos: " It looks as though the Socceroos will have to play through South America to get to the next World cup. Is it something your concerned about?

Lazaridis: " I really don't know why they keep changing our qualifying route. I don't understand why we don't have the same qualifying path as in the last World cup.

It's certainly going to be a lot tougher. Having said that, l don't believe we should be frightened of anyone. We proved in the Confederations cup that we can beat teams like Uruguay and Mexico. I think we have a great side that is getting better and better.

I don't feel we have to fear anyone. It would be nice though, if we could avoid the one-off games like the one against Iran and be given a fairer opportunity to qualify over a series of games like every one else in the world."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998