Yes, take a Bilbao, Fred Pentland, a soccer supremo who ruled before false 9s, holding midfielders and wing-backs. Back then, top player were too “sick as a parrot” to post about social injustice. He was the man who put the “awright our kid” into ole football, introducing the intricate, short, keep the ball on the ground style that has become Spain’s trademark.
And Fred, whose own career began with such modest Black Country outfits as Avondale Juniors and Willenhall Swifts, is still regarded as one of the nation’s greatest managers. He was the first to guide a Spanish club to the league and cup double. And he achieved the great feat twice with Athletic Bilbao, in 1930 and ’31, as well as winning four successive Copa del Rey cup finals, something that has never been equalled.
Fred was also the architect of mighty Barcelona’s biggest ever defeat, a 12-1, 1931 thrashing to Bilbao. Make no mistake, Fred was much more than the Mourinho of his time – a time of Brylcreem, beef tea and half-time oranges. He was a tactical genius when there weren’t many tactics.
Forget the tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation, Fred shocked the world by unveiling his 2-5-3 style. But then Fred’s approach was always unconventional. He spent his first training session with the Bilbao squad teaching the correct way to tie boot laces, telling the mystified players: “Get the basics right and the rest will follow.
” He changed the way topflight football was played, although England’s .