Sunderland’s
Black Stars trio of John Mensah, Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari
have pledged to play for Asante Kotoko before hanging their
boots in the future.
The players obviously impressed with the
organization and innovations by the current administration
revealed their affection for the Porcupine Warriors during last
week’s visit to Sunderland by a management delegation led by the
Executive Chairman, Dr. K.K Sarpong.
“The players made the pledge in the
presence of Sunderland Chairman Naill Quinn and Manager Steve
Bruce which set the stage for our meeting last Friday” said
management member Kwame Baah-Nuakoh who was part of the
delegation to the United Kingdom.
Ian
Porterfield the Sunderland legend
In a related development, the Kotoko
delegation came across the burial site of former Kotoko coach
Ian Porterfield during their tour of the Stadium of Light.
Porterfield a Sunderland legend
was buried at the Stadium of Light in accordance with his wish.
He died at 61 on September 11 2007.
“Sunderland officials were very pleased to
know that the revered Porterfield in Sunderland folklore once coached Asante Kotoko” Baah-Nuako
noted.
Ian Porterfield who replaced German Ernst
Middendorp coached Kotoko in 2002 before he was sacked following
a string of poor results and sour relationship with former
Chairman Herbert Mensah.
He was replaced by German Ralf Zumdick just
before the 2002 CAF Cup Winners Cup final against WAC of
Morocco.
Ian
Porterfield, whose lone goal for Sunderland against Leeds United in 1973 created arguably
the greatest English FA Cup final shock. The Scot subsequently
enjoyed a lengthy managerial career and had guided Armenia to a
marvelous 1-1 draw against Portugal only three weeks before his
death.
The former midfield player was diagnosed with
colon cancer in 2007 but continued in his post with
Armenia, the sixth national team he had
coached after Zambia,
Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Oman
and Trinidad
and Tobago.
His highest-profile position in England came in the early
1990s when he took charge of Chelsea.
Porterfield’s most memorable footballing
moment, though, came on that Wembley day in 1973. Leeds had just
secured a fifth successive top-three placing in the old first
division and their team comprised 11 internationals, while
Sunderland were seeking to become the first second division FA
Cup winners for 42 years and had been in danger of dropping to
the third tier earlier in the campaign.
But Porterfield’s first-half swivel and volley, with his
weaker right foot, earned Sunderland victory on a day also
remembered for an astonishing double save by Jim Montgomery,
their goalkeeper, and a triumphant run on to the pitch by Bob
Stokoe, the manager, complete with trilby hat.
Born in Dunfermline, Porterfield began his
playing career with Raith Rovers before appearing for
Sunderland, Reading on loan, and Sheffield
Wednesday. His managerial bow came with Rotherham United in 1979
and he gained promotion in his first full season in charge. He
then took over at Sheffield United, where, in less than five
years, he guided them from the fourth tier to seventh position
in the second level. He was rewarded with the sack.
He subsequently had spells with
Aberdeen, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s replacement, and
Reading before leading
Chelsea
into the Premier League era.
Porterfield’s dismissal by
Chelsea in 1993 prompted him to further his career
abroad, his first task being to rebuild the Zambia
team soon after an air crash had robbed the country of many of
its most talented players. His international sojourn also
included a spell with Busan I’Park, the South Korean club side,
where he enjoyed success, before he became coach of
Armenia
a little more than a year ago.
Porterfield returned to Chelsea as manager for the
1991-92 season, following Bobby Campbell's decision
to resign as manager and become PA to assistant
Ken Bates. 1991-92 was an uneventful season, but
1992-93 began with
Chelsea
looking like surprise contenders for the first
Premier League title. However, the good form had gone
by
Christmas and Porterfield was dismissed on February
15 1993, gaining the distinction of being the first manager to
be sacked by a Premier League club.
He was given the task of rebuilding the
Zambian team following a tragic air crash in 1993 that claimed
the lives of many of the nation's most gifted players. However
he was to resign before the rebuilding process was completed
after becoming entangled in a row over money with the former
Wimbledon and
Aston Villa player
John Fashanu.
A
drink-driving charge in May 1996 prompted his hasty
resignation from Bolton and he returned abroad to manage both
the
Oman and
Trinidad & Tobago national teams.
In 2003 he was appointed manager of Korean
club side
Busan I'Park and he led them to a
Korean FA Cup victory in 2004. The team went on to
claim the
K-League first half title, as it simultaneously
continued its unbeaten run through the group stage of the
AFC Champions League.
A pub named The Porterfield is named in his
honour in Sunderland.
