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| Close Season 2003 Spurs confirm the departure of Teddy Sheringham and Graham Taylor ends his second spell as Aston Villa manager citing, ‘The club isn’t run properly’ as his reason. Fulham appoint Chris Coleman, 32, as the youngest Premier League manager. Newcastle United sign Lee Bowyer and David Seaman, 39, signs a one-year contract to keep goal for Manchester City. The media speculation surrounding a possible David Beckham move gathers momentum, with Barcelona, AC Milan and Real Madrid favourites for his signature. Michael Owen becomes England’s youngest-ever captain, at 23 years and 181 days, and he celebrates his 50th cap by scoring both goals in the 2–1 win over Slovakia. Manchester United reveal they offered David Beckham a new contract but Real Madrid announce the player has already signed a pre-contract agreement. Three days later United confirm their acceptance of Madrid’s £25 million offer for Beckham. Manchester City retire their squad number 23 in tribute to their midfielder Marc Vivien Foe, who collapsed and died while playing for Cameroon in the Confederations Cup. Teddy Sheringham signs a one-year contract with Portsmouth and another ex-England man, 39-year-old David Seaman, signs for Manchester City. The Russian revolution comes to London as multi-billionaire Roman Abramovic buys Chelsea and at a stroke wipes out the club’s £100 million debts. Ken Bates sells out and ends a 20-year association with Stamford Bridge, though he stays on as chairman, for now. The new regime comes days too late to prevent Gianfranco Zola leaving for Cagliari. Voted the best-ever Chelsea player Gianfranco refuses to go back on his word to the Italian club after the new regime at the Bridge tries to lure him back. David Beckham signs for Real Madrid, for £25 million and becomes the joint 12th most expensive player in the world, with Pavel Nedved. A worldwide television audience sees the England captain undergo an intense medical. ‘Chelski’, the new media name for Chelsea, splash £28 million, in three days, to sign Damien Duff, Geremi and Glen Johnson. Seven million is then spent on Wayne Bridge, from Southampton. Juan Sebastian Veron then moves to Stamford Bridge for half the £28 million Manchester United paid for him taking Chelsea’s Abramovic spending spree to more than £70 million. Arsene Wenger, financially restricted by the club’s move to a new ground at Ashburton Grove, warns Premiership rivals ‘not to write us off for the title’. Joe Cole moves from West Ham to Chelsea for £6.6 million and is immediately dubbed ‘my natural successor’ by Gianfranco Zola. Manchester United win the Community Shield, on penalties, but the game is marred when Francis Jeffers becomes the 50th red card of Arsene Wenger’s seven year reign. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is the only new player in The Gunners line-up. Manchester United sign Ronaldo but are quick to point out it is Cristiano Ronaldo, from Sporting Lisbon. In paying their fifth highest-ever fee, £12.24 million, United make the 18-year-old the most expensive teenager in British football. While Chelsea splash the cash Arsene Wenger secures Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires on new deals. |
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The
above article is an extract from The Breedon Book of Premiership Records by Brian Beard. For details of this essential addition to the bookshelves of any football fan click HERE. |
