The former wideman lifts the lid on what it was like to play alongside a future England gaffer, as well as his brother-in-law and the uncoachable Luis Suarez
Harry De Cosemo
PEPE REINA “When people talk about goalkeepers now, it’s about how good they are with their feet. Reina was the ‘new’ style, as well as being very commanding and a top-class keeper. He could have played outfield if he’d wanted to.”
GLEN JOHNSON “I had a good relationship with Luke Young at both Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, but Johnno could get forward more and he had two good feet. At Liverpool, I’d play on the right, left-footed, and he darted around me on the outside. We understood each other’s games without talking about them. You click with people, and he was one of the players I clicked with most in my career.”
GARETH SOUTHGATE “He was Boro’s greatest signing in the period I was there, plus he was really good with me when I was coming through, always ready with an arm around the shoulder. You could see he was the management type and it’s no surprise he’s done so well as England boss.”
RIO FERDINAND “I was stuck on three options: Rio, Jonathan Woodgate – my brother-in-law! – and John Terry. I only played one season with Woody, so I’ve gone for Rio, one of the world’s best defenders in his prime. He was brilliant when I got into the England squad, always talking and demanding goals and assists.”
ASHLEY COLE “He was so good at the 2006 World Cup – I think [Cristiano] Ronaldo said he was his toughest opponent. He won more than 100 caps, and his game would have been ideally suited to playing today because he had absolutely everything. I had to pick him.”
ASHLEY YOUNG “I didn’t know how I’d fit in at Villa because me and Ashley were both left wingers and [James] Milner was a winger as well. But we had a good relationship, swapping sides a lot. I knew it wouldn’t be long until somebody took him, and obviously that was Manchester United.”
STEVEN GERRARD “He was the best all-round player I played with. He could do everything – tackle, dribble, score – and he was a fantastic captain and leader on top of being a great lad. He led in the way he played; he was a huge presence for Liverpool and England. He had a massive influence on and off the pitch and drove his teams on to success.”
STILIYAN PETROV “I signed for Aston Villa injured because he tackled me! I was
