Former Aston Villa duo Kieran Richardson and Nigel Reo-Coker have some task ahead of them if they are to save Granada from relegation.
The sight of Kieran Richardson being hoisted onto the shoulders of his adoring fans and paraded around The Hawthorns pitch upon the culmination of the 2004/05 Premier League season is one of English football’s most iconic images.
After all, no side in Prem history had ever escaped relegation after being bottom at Christmas. West Brom, however, achieved survival on the final day. And Richardson, on loan from Manchester United, wrote his name into the club’s folklore.
Though he has a lot to do if he’s to repeat the trick at the Estadio Nuevo Carmenes.
According to The Independent, Tony Adams has taken Richardson and his former Aston Villa team-mate Nigel Reo-Coker on trial at La Liga relegation candidates Granada. Which is probably one of the oddest sentences you’ll read all season.
Yes, a Granada side seven points adrift of safety have turned to a manger who hasn’t worked since being sacked by Azerbaijani outfit Gabala in 2011, a player released by Cardiff City this season and a one-time West Ham captain who struggled in Canada.
Needless to say, Twitter had a field day when the news broke. Once upon a time, Reo-Coker and Richardson were two of English football’s most exciting talents. Richardson even netted twice on his Three Lions debut against the USA.
Now, however, two careers that never lived up to expectations have taken yet another bizarre twist.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
