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Mohamed
Al Fayed
Chairman and Owner of Fulham Football Club |
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Mohamed Al Fayed is putting his money where
it counts
As owner of Harrods it has never been Mohamed Al Fayed's style to shop on
the cheap.
His ambitions are matched only by his money and since he bought Fulham in
May 1997, he has always gone for the best his millions can purchase.
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Micky Adams |
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After giving his first manager Micky Adams
£750,000 loose change to spend, he decided the real change was needed
in the dugout. Adams was not high-profile enough for Al Fayed even though
he had just won Fulham promotion to the Second Division. The controversial
Egyptian-born tycoon wanted someone more charismatic to realise his dream
of making Fulham a Premiership side.
That someone was Kevin Keegan and in September
1997 he was unveiled as the new head of a coaching team that included Ray
Wilkins, Arthur Cox and Alan Smith. Al Fayed lured Keegan back into football
following his traumatic exit from Newcastle with a five-year contract worth
£500,000-a-year. He also gave Keegan a £10million transfer kitty
which he quickly began spending.
Initially the dream team were more of a nightmare and after a mediocre first
half to the season, Al Fayed demonstrated he expects results in return for
his money. He got rid of Wilkins and told Keegan to swap his suit for a
tracksuit and take over the coaching. There were no hitches the following
season and Fulham cruised to the Second Division title with an impressive
101 points.
However Fulham's renaissance under Keegan came at a price. The Football
Association persuaded
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Kevin Keegan |
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Keegan to manage England on a part-time basis
following Glenn Hoddle's departure in 1999. Despite repeated assurances
that he would honour his contract at Fulham, Keegan was smitten and that
summer he left Craven Cottage to take over full-time.
Al Fayed was determined not to be derailed from his goal of Premiership
football and appointed Keegan's assistant Paul Bracewell as his new manager.
Perhaps he hoped some of Keegan's magic dust might have rubbed off on Bracewell.
However it had not and following a disappointing First Division campaign,
Bracewell left the club.
Al Fayed was determined to get the right man this time and he was linked
with all manner of big names. Ruud Gullit was mentioned, while Eric Cantona
was also said to be in the frame. In the end, Al Fayed turned to another
Frenchman - Jean Tigana. Once again, Al Fayed had gone upmarket in his determination
to get the best.
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Jean Tigana |
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Tigana arrived with an impressive track record
and he had won the French title with Monaco and reached the Champions League
semi-finals in 1997.
Tigana transformed Bracewell's underachievers overnight and they romped
to the First Division title last season, amassing 101 points and finishing
10 points clear of second-placed Blackburn.
At last Al Fayed had realised his dream of reaching the Promised Land of
the Premiership. Fulham were back in the top flight after an absence of
33 years.
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Champions Jean Tigana and Mohamed Al Fayed
Manager and Chairman/Owner of Fulham Football Club |
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Al Fayed, though, is far from finished. Not
content with achieving this goal, he now wants to make Fulham one of the
best sides in the country. He dreams of rivalling Manchester United, who
he tried to buy in the 1980s.
To do this he has embarked on his biggest spending spree yet. Despite missing
out with a £6million bid for Czech Republic striker Jan Koller, he
has still managed to spend £13.7million this summer.
That figure will rise to £17.2million once Jon Harley completes his
£3.5million move from Chelsea and could rise yet further if Paolo
di Canio joins in a £2.5million deal from West Ham.
Only fatcats United, Arsenal and Chelsea have shelved out more this summer.
In total he has bankrolled the spending of £40million on players in
just over four years at Fulham.
But then success never has come cheap and Al Fayed has never shirked paying
whatever it takes. |
Source sportinglife By David Anderson