Gary Mabbutt
Gary Mabbutt MBE Vincent ( born August 23, 1961 in Bristol ) is a former English footballer. In spite of diabetes, he played over 600 league games in English professional football, and won with Tottenham Hotspur 1984 UEFA Cup and the FA Cup seven years later.
Career
Mabbutt started the professional career in his hometown at the Bristol Rovers. Although diabetes had been diagnosed with at the age of 17, he established himself as a versatile player a name; He had not, though he mostly acted at that time as a central defender or defensive midfielder a stock position. For a relatively small transfer fee in the amount of 120,000 pounds Mabbutt hired in July 1982 at Tottenham Hotspur, who had just previously won the English Cup.
Immediately upon its first use in the Charity Shield match against Liverpool he made at Wembley Stadium in midfield a very present feeling, thus giving a taste of his leadership qualities, to which the " Spurs " were able to build in the next 16 years. Despite his good performances at this position, he debuted on October 13, 1982 against Germany (1:2) for the English national team as a right-back and even in London, he grew steadily in the role of " all-rounder " who stuffed the gaps, the injured players left. In 1984 he won with his team the UEFA Cup and after the injury of Paul Miller, he established himself as a " permanent solution " to the defense headquarters. After Miller's return, he denied then although again some games in the midfield, but after the end of the 1985/86 season new coach David Pleat ordered him alongside Richard Gough in the central defense. Together reached the newly formed team in 1987, the FA Cup final against Coventry City. There Mabbutt scored the temporary 2-1 lead hit, was then but an own goal for the 2:3 final score in the 96th minute charge - a fanzine of Coventry City named " Gary Mabbutt 's Knee " is a reminder of this circumstance.
After the departure of Gough in the Scottish homeland Mabbutt grew in its role as defender and team captain and compensated its comparatively small size with good positional sense and timing. Offers from other clubs he declined consistently and in 1991 his loyalty was rewarded with a greater catchment in the English Cup final. Four years after his personal disappointment, he led the team against Nottingham Forest now as a captain on the field and took a 2-1 win the trophy personally received. Just over two years Mabbutt played at the highest level and helped by four -year break in the English national team from again as this feared in the fall of 1991 against Turkey and Poland to the successful qualification for the upcoming European Championships in 1992. After a 16th and final appearance for England senior team against the Czech Republic on 25 February 1992 Mabbutts ended career with the " Three Lions ".
In November 1993, Mabbutt broke after a hard elbowing Justin Fashanu the cheekbones and fell three months. Another serious injury overtook him at the beginning of the 1996/97 season when he broke at Blackburn Rovers leg and had to miss an entire year. Mabbutt returned one last time athletic back, but when the club decided in May 1998 to end the engagement, the veteran player's announcement in January 1999 due to persistent knee problems his resignation.
After his playing career, Mabbutt dedicated publicity in many ways. In addition to his fight against diabetes, he is an honorary ambassador for the Football Association and build helper for Afghan football.
Title / Awards
- UEFA Cup ( 1): 1984
- English Cup ( 1): 1991