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‘The Hated One’ to ‘The Special One’: How Raheem Sterling has altered his image at Man City
‘The Hated One’.
No, not the latest offering from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who has morphed down the years from ‘The Special One’ to ‘The Happy One’and now seemingly ‘The Moody One’.
Instead, the moniker above was bestowed upon himself by Raheem Sterling in the summer of 2016.
Having made few friends when forcing a move away from Liverpool in 2015, and then done little to endear himself to the Manchester City faithful during a largely forgettable debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium, the jet-heeled winger became public enemy No. 1 in England on the back of a disastrous showing at the last European Championship.
Well, maybe enemy No. 2. Joe Hart probably wrapped up top spot on that particular chart with his antics against Iceland.
Whatever his standing, Sterling was definitely not flavour of the month, with England supporters taking to booing their own player during a scrappy 2-1 victory over Wales in Lens.
Having anointed himself ‘The Hated One’ on social media, the 23-year-old would later admit to that period being “the most difficult time” in what has already been a career of wild fluctuations between the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
More inconsistent showings were to follow, though, and a year on from his frustration in France, it was suggested that City may be prepared to cut their losses on a £44 million asset and trade him in as part of a deal to lure Alexis Sanchez away from Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola sought to quickly quash those rumours, saying: “No chance. Zero chance. Not one per cent chance we will swap Raz because I trust a lot in him.”
Sterling claims to have had no “negative thoughts” during that saga, with the supportive words of his manager enough to convince him that he would have a role to play in 2017-18 as part of a star-studded City side.
And what a role he has played .
A red card for over-celebrating the most dramatic of winners against Bournemouth in August offered an early bump in the road but by the midway point of the season, Sterling was flying.
In 19 Premier League games prior to the turn of the calendar year, 13 goals had been scored (boasting a conversion rate of 35.14), four assists recorded and 30 chances created (at an average of 1.6 per game).
In 2018, Sterling’s output has shifted somewhat, with his game having become more about creativity and less about providing the finishing touch – although not entirely through choice.
Over the second half of a title-winning campaign, assist figures have been raised to seven – in just 12 outings – while creating a further 24 opportunities for grateful team-mates (2 per game).
There has been a noticeable dip in the goalscoring department, with the target found five times amid a run which has seen Sterling’s conversion rate slump to 16.67 and seven ‘big chances’ squandered – with a derby defeat to Manchester United at the Etihad proving to be particularly wasteful.
He is, however, aware of his faults , admitting to Sky Sports : “Of course, people see it and my problem is that when I have too much time to think that’s when I mess up a lot. If it’s more instinctive with less time to think I am much better. If it’s through on goal and I have too much time to think I try to over-complicate things. That’s when I do mess up at times. I have full confidence in myself and believe I will get it right in a matter of time.”
A nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award suggests that a few chinks in the armour are being forgiven, with Sterling’s most recent outing seeing him provide three assists in a Man of the Match showing against West Ham – the first time in his career that he has achieved such a feat.
He has also become the second man – after Leroy Sane in the same meeting with the Hammers – to record 10+ goals and assists across a solitary Premier League season. Not bad when you consider the calibre of talent that City have at their disposal, and have had down the years.
And the most exciting thing is, there is the promise of more to come, especially when taking into account his continued ‘either or’ output when it comes to goals and assists.
Former England coach Gary Neville told Sky Sports when selecting the most illustrious of role models: “[Cristiano] Ronaldo, when he first joined United, wasn’t a free-kick taker, he wasn’t a corner taker, he wasn’t good from a deadball, he wasn’t a great ‘kicker.’ Raheem Sterling, isn’t a great ‘kicker’ of a ball. Could he put a corner on the six-yard box, whipped in every time? No. The answer is no.
“Ronaldo couldn’t do this at 18, 19, 20 either, it’s not a criticism, it’s a question of development. Can Sterling get to those Ronaldo or [Thierry] Henry levels? That’s debatable, because they’re two of the great players but that’s the challenge.”
Sterling may never be ‘The Popular One’, but then neither is Ronaldo.
He has, however, successfully shaken ‘The Hated One’ tag – at least outside of the red half of Merseyside – and can complete his road to redemption when back in the colours of England at this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.
The Chairman of Agbele Sporting, Hon. Ponmile Omidiji, has rejoiced with and extended warm felicitations to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Remo Stars Football Club, Hon. Kunle Soname, on the occasion of his birthday.
This was contained in a statement personally signed by Omidiji and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.
The statement reads: “It is my greatest pleasure to felicitate with you, the man of the masses and a philanthropist par excellence, on your day of birth.
“You are a morale booster and a great motivator to this generation. You always utilise any position you occupy for the benefit of others. Indubitably, you are a good man and worthy of emulation,” he added.
Omidiji also seized the opportunity to commend Hon. Soname’s contributions and tireless efforts towards the development of football in Nigeria and beyond, noting that such commitment is truly appreciated.
He offered heartfelt prayers for the celebrant, praying that Almighty God would continue to bless and protect him, that God’s grace would abound in his life, and that all his concerns would be firmly in God’s hands. He further wished that the world would always be kind to him.
Christian Chukwu, former captain and head coach of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has died at the age of 74.
The football icon passed away in the early hours of Saturday, though the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear at the time of reporting.
The news of his demise was confirmed by his longtime friend and teammate, Chief Olusegun Odegbami, who spoke to Channels Television. Odegbami, who played alongside Chukwu in Nigeria’s triumphant 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“I just received the news that between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and teammate, one of the greatest football players in Nigeria’s history, has passed on,” said Odegbami.
“Babuje, Emmanuel Okala, MON, gave me the sad news a few minutes ago. May ‘Onyim’ find peace with Our Creator in Heaven and console his family,” he added.
Born on 4 January 1951 in Enugu, Chukwu carved a legendary career in Nigerian football, notably captaining Enugu Rangers to numerous domestic triumphs and leading them to continental glory in 1977 with victory in the now-defunct African Cup Winners’ Cup.
He made history in 1980 as the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy following a 3–0 win over Algeria in the final held in Lagos.
Chukwu went on to contribute to Nigeria’s football success off the pitch, serving as assistant to Dutch tactician Clemens Westerhof during the Super Eagles’ victorious 1994 AFCON campaign and their debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup the same year.
As head coach, Chukwu led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. His tenure as national coach lasted from 2002 to 2005, ending during the qualification phase for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Nicknamed “Chairman” for his commanding presence on and off the pitch, Chukwu also played a role in Nigeria’s youth football development, working as assistant coach during the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Cup, which Nigeria won in China.
In 2019, he battled prostate cancer, which affected his mobility. A public appeal for support was launched, and Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola stepped in to cover his overseas medical expenses, reportedly donating $50,000 for his treatment.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes Marcus Rashford was unable to see football “the way I see it” before the unwanted England striker was shipped out of Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old Rashford fell dramatically out of favour with the Portuguese boss and spent seven weeks on the sidelines until he was loaned to Premier League rivals Aston Villa during the transfer window.
“I couldn’t put Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,” Amorim said on Thursday.
“And sometimes you have one player that is really good with one coach, and the same player with another coach is different.
“I just wish the best to Rashford and to (Aston Villa coach) Unai Emery, and they can connect because he’s a very good player.”
Amorim, whose team face Leicester in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, said his focus now is on turning around a wretched season.
“Guys, in the summer… like we said before, we are fighting for our jobs until the summer,” he said.
“So, I am just focused on these games. Thankfully about Marcus he is in Birmingham now with Unai, so you can take these questions to another coach. We are just focused on our players at the moment.”
