Wolves boss Gary O’Neil names David James and Sol Campbell among the top five players he shared the pitch with during his career… but which former Spanish star takes top spot?
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has named his top five teammates of his playing career during an exclusive interview with Mail Sport.
O’Neil spoke to chief sportswriter Oliver Holt to discuss everything from his fear of failure to the impressive work he has done since taking charge at Molineux.
The former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and West Ham midfielder also gave an insight into his tactical approach as a coach, having guided Wolves to ten league wins from 25 this season.
During the discussion, O’Neil was asked to name the best teammates from his days on the field – rather than on the sidelines – and to name a handful of familiar faces.
O’Neil said, “Robert Prosinečki. He was incredible. Different era, of course. He was old by the time he came to Portsmouth, but he was just incredible.
Gary O’Neil named his top five teammates of his career during an interview with Mail Sport
The 40-year-old sat down to discuss the secrets behind his success for Wolves this season
The former Portsmouth star also reflected on the best players he shared the dressing room with
‘Paul Merson was fantastic. Sol Campbell. David James was an incredible goalkeeper on his day.
‘Gaizka Mendieta in Middlesbrough. He was a bit sidelined by the club at the time and didn’t play much, but he was incredibly gifted, just like at another level.’
O’Neil is best known for his seven-year spell at Fratton Park with Portsmouth, where he made 174 appearances and scored 16 goals.
It was at the former Premier League side where he shared a dressing room with Campbell, James, Merson and Prosinečki.
Meanwhile, his short four-year spell at Boro, where he played alongside former Spain international Mendieta, who played a small role during his final years at the club.
As previously mentioned, O’Neil also offered an intriguing insight into his tactical approach as a manager in the interview – likening football to a game of chess.
“Look,” O’Neil said, “I want the game to look the way I prepared it. Then I feel like I have control over that. The level of analysis and detail that people are going into now allows you to understand the impact of every move.
‘When I was playing I probably would have dropped in as a central midfielder at times, just because I felt there was space there, and if I came on the full-back would probably have continued.
‘Now you would see that as a rotation that people use all the time. I would have done it without knowing its impact.
O’Neil named Sol Campbell (L) and David James (R) among his top five teammates
Robert Prosinecki (L) and Gaizka Mendieta (R) were also on the Wolves boss’s list
‘What does that do to the opposition? What’s opening? Does it suit our full back that likes to be on the top line? If Mario Lemina does this, what does the opposition do? What does that open? Do we want it to be opened up? If not, put Mario back where he was.
‘It’s like a chess game. If you move something, what happens? Does that limit a player’s freedom of expression? Possibly.
‘But what I have always tried to do is not restrict their freedom. Currently we have found a good mix. There is still enough movement and rotation that they feel like they can still influence the game.
‘There will always be times when they have to go out and figure something out for themselves. I will give them as much detail as possible about what I want it to look like.
“But there will be times when we need someone to do something brilliant or someone to defend well.”