{"id":297321,"date":"2023-10-27T00:25:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T00:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=297321"},"modified":"2023-10-27T00:25:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T00:25:04","slug":"kevin-muscat-could-be-ready-to-get-back-into-lions-den-at-millwall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/kevin-muscat-could-be-ready-to-get-back-into-lions-den-at-millwall\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Muscat could be ready to get back into Lions' den at Millwall"},"content":{"rendered":"
You might recall Kevin Muscat the player \u2014 or at least his tough tackling. During 10 years at Crystal Palace, Wolves, Rangers and Millwall, the no-nonsense Australia defender was often dubbed the dirtiest footballer in the land.<\/p>\n
In a rare case of one footballer suing another over a challenge on the pitch, former Charlton midfielder Matty Holmes was awarded \u00a3250,000 in the High Court after Muscat, then of Millwall, ended his career in 1998 with a horrific challenge.<\/p>\n
\u2018That\u2019s for f***ing Muscat, that,\u2019 said Neil Warnock as his Sheffield United\u00a0side beat Millwall after the Aussie had sparked a mass brawl. \u2018I told (Muscat) to smash someone his own age,\u2019 wrote Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny in his book The Gloves Are Off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018He turned around to look at me and, out of nowhere, headbutted me.\u2019 Warnock added later: \u2018This is my 40th year in football, he\u2019s the nastiest player I\u2019ve ever come across. He would snap your legs off without even thinking.\u2019<\/p>\n
Peter Crouch told his podcast that Muscat was the only player who ever scared him. \u2018People say, \u201cI\u2019m going to break your legs\u201d, but when he would say it you genuinely believed him,\u2019 he said. Striker Ian Wright branded the Aussie a \u2018lowlife\u2019 and a \u2018nobody\u2019.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kevin Muscat was often dubbed ‘the dirtiest footballer in the land’ during his playing days (seen grabbing Liverpool’s Milan Baros)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now Muscat is a leading candidate for the Millwall job after Gary Rowett’s departure<\/p>\n
Muscat\u2019s rap sheet could fill this entire column, with a \u2018reputation\u2019 section of his Wikipedia profile recalling \u2018acts of brutality\u2019, a career with 123 yellow cards and 12 reds, plus a Spanish website naming him the dirtiest player of all time, above \u2018The Butcher of Bilbao\u2019, Andoni Goikoetxea.<\/p>\n
But we are here instead to talk about Muscat the manager. Park all ideas of his old-school style, because the 50-year-old says he now follows the Pep Guardiola school of thought.<\/p>\n
Muscat is now mentioned in the same breath as Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou when it comes to his career path.<\/p>\n
After being linked strongly with a return to Rangers after Mick Beale\u2019s sacking last month, Muscat is now a leading candidate for the Millwall job following Gary Rowett\u2019s departure a week ago.<\/p>\n
Whether he takes over at the Den or not, he would be a good fit for a Championship side.<\/p>\n
Muscat\u2019s CV boasts an A-League title after replacing Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory, when the now Spurs boss took over the national team, plus an Australian Cup. He had a brief stint in Belgium before joining Yokohama F Marinos in Japan when Postecoglou left for Celtic.<\/p>\n
The club is part of the City Football Group, who also own Manchester City and New York City FC, and have stakes in teams across 12 countries. In Yokohama, Muscat has won the J-League, the Japanese Super Cup and has them playing in the Asian Champions League.<\/p>\n
\u2018The fire in my belly still burns, and I\u2019m as eager and enthusiastic to win a game of football as I ever have been,\u2019 he told The Guardian Australia in 2014, when he was at Melbourne Victory. \u2018But as you take control, you realise you\u2019ve got a responsibility to act in the right manner.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Muscat has followed a similar career path to Australian compatriot Ange Postecoglou, replacing the current Tottenham boss at Melbourne Victory<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019ve certainly worked out that when I\u2019m calm I make better decisions. I do wear my heart on my sleeve, and finding that balance to be able to stay poised and in control is very important. I understand that interest (in my playing career) but I want to be judged on how my teams play.\u2019<\/p>\n
So, how do his teams play? \u2018He has picked up Ange\u2019s team and tried to evolve it to be very attack centric,\u2019 said Japanese football expert Dan Orlowitz of the Japan Times. \u2018He plays with that same style \u2014 all 11 players are attackers.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fans have compared his style to that of Roberto De Zerbi\u2019s Brighton, with a tactical fluidity and a bit of an unorthodox nature in the final third. \u2018In the final third, it\u2019s unpredictable \u2014 that\u2019s where the style of play hurts a lot of opposition teams,\u2019 said his assistant Ross Aloisi in an interview last month.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Muscat is currently the manager of Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos and has also previously coached in Belgium<\/p>\n
\u2018He has had to adapt with losing a few key players. In his press, he will adapt to the opposition, but the playing style on the ball stays the same. Kev will adapt to what he\u2019s got while playing the same brand of football.\u2019<\/p>\n
So while most will point to Muscat the \u2018lowlife\u2019 player, the Aussie as a manager is something else. Yes, he might still be scary if you go in at half-time after a shoddy performance but he could be the perfect fit for Millwall.<\/p>\n
After the club\u2019s four top-half finishes on a limited budget, eyebrows were raised when they parted with Rowett. But many fans thought it was the right way to go after a generally positive era. Now Muscat could be the perfect manager to take Millwall to the next level.<\/p>\n
New date for abandoned match\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The EFL have confirmed the new date for Leyton Orient\u2019s game against Lincoln, which was abandoned earlier this month in the 84th minute with Orient leading 1-0.<\/p>\n Fans went on to the pitch at Brisbane Road that night to bring attention to a medical emergency in the crowd but lifelong O\u2019s fan Derek Reynolds, 74, sadly died.<\/p>\n It seems unfair that the fixture will be played from the first whistle on November 21. Not only were Orient winning, but the game being played again in full will be traumatic for family, friends and fans who knew Mr Reynolds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Leyton Orient’s game against Lincoln has been given a new date after their original meeting was abandoned, as lifelong O’s fan Derek Reynolds sadly died at the age of 74<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fans sat on the pitch to bring attention to the medical emergency in the crowd earlier this month<\/p>\n THREE TO WATCH<\/span><\/p>\n Middlesbrough v Stoke City, Championship, Saturday at 3pm<\/span><\/p>\n This column called on Middlesbrough supremo Steve Gibson not to hit the panic button when his side were bottom of the table and winless after seven games.<\/p>\n The underlying numbers were positive and it seemed clear results would soon follow performances for Michael Carrick\u2019s side. Since then, they have won six in a row.<\/p>\n Now Boro host Stoke, whose boss Alex Neil has taken the pressure off himself with two wins in a row.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough side have turned around their fortunes after a poor start<\/p>\n Reading v Portsmouth, League One, Saturday at 3pm<\/span><\/p>\n Two clubs moving in opposite directions \u2014 but Portsmouth fans will be able to relate all too well to Reading\u2019s woes.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Royals have been deducted a total of 16 points over recent years and are dangerously close to the relegation trapdoor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ruben Selles\u2019 men have just one win in their last nine league games, whereas leaders Pompey are unbeaten.<\/p>\n Mansfield v Walsall, League Two, Saturday at 3pm\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Joining Pompey as the only unbeaten sides in the EFL are Nigel Clough\u2019s Mansfield, who have conceded just 11 goals, making them the stingiest side in the fourth tier.<\/p>\n After a couple of near-misses \u2014 they have finished seventh and eighth in the last two seasons \u2014 the Stags can make the leap to an automatic promotion spot.<\/p>\n