Manchester United fans are well aware of the part that Eric Cantona has played
in building the Old Trafford dynasty. But Fulham's followers could soon be lauding
the Frenchman for his part in their very own success story.
Last summer, Cantona recommended Jean Tigana when Craven Cottage chairman Mohammed
Al Fayed asked him who he should choose as his next manager. Tigana took over
a side that had failed to reach the First Division play-offs and has turned them
into an outfit that have imperiously dominated the league this term.
Jean Tigana |
Big-money signings have not been the reason for his success, as he has essentially
stuck with the squad he inherited. Instead, the 45-year-old has revolutionised
the training and preparation of his players as well as transforming the way they
play.
The Fulham squad knew they were in for a rude awakening shortly after Tigana's
arrival when he hauled them in for pre-season training two weeks early. He carted
them off to France and forced them to get up at 6.30am each day to start the first
of their three daily training sessions.
Midfielder Simon Morgan, who has been at Craven Cottage for 10 years, said "I
remember when training involved the manager standing at the top of a hill with
a stopwatch and saying 'go'. "Now we have people from the British Olympic Medical
Centre giving us time trials and all sorts of tests."
Tigana also brought in a whole new team of backroom staff. Arguably the most important
was Christian Damiano, who had worked as technical coach at the French federation
for several years.
A club dentist was even introduced because of Tigana's belief that you can tell
a lot about a player's fitness from his teeth. Some of Tigana's changes must have
seemed bizarre to his charges, but it is a tribute to him that his players have
done nothing but praise him since his arrival.
Tigana had never heard of Fulham before Al Fayed approached him. He says he was
attracted to Craven Cottage by the challenge of getting the club promoted and
giving his wife and two children a new cultural experience.
In France, Tigana had been coach of Lyon, who he took to second in the league,
and then Monaco, who he led to the semi-finals of the Champions League via a win
over Manchester United in 1998.
As a player, he had been part of the great midfield quartet - also comprising
Michel Platini, Luis Fernandez and Alain Giresse - that helped France win the
1984 European Championship.
Even though he is renowned for his scientific approach to the game, he is not
averse to giving his players a rollicking when required.
The Fulham bandwagon has only just started rolling. Tigana says "What I like best
is bringing on young players."
Indeed, he nurtured the now formidable talents of Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet
when he was at at Monaco, and has brought 20-year-old Sean Davis into Fulham's
first-team this season.
The Cottagers' rivals should beware.