Leicester City legend Martin O’Neill has revealed how he got his revenge on those Foxes fans unimpressed by his early efforts as manager at Filbert Street.
The Irishman took over as Leicester boss in 1995, and before he left five years later had taken the club back into the top-flight and overseen two League Cup victories and a foray into Europe.
But even though Leicester were promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs during his first season at the club, O’Neill told TalkSport that his early days were a bit rocky, winning just one game in his first nine league fixtures.
Discussing the times he had been sacked during his managerial career, particularly at Nottingham Forest in 2019, O’Neill said: “I have got over it now, but it does take some time, I must admit. It’s because of losing your job after 19 games when you really haven't had a chance to sign players and get your teeth into it. Like anything else, you get bitter for a while, but you get over it.”
And discussing the time when he got in first to answer his critics, he added: “I remember when I was at Leicester City. I couldn't win a game to save my life early on. There were letters coming in right, left and centre.
“But I held on to those letters, and then when we got promotion I sent my replies back and then phoned a couple of people who had stupidly left their telephone number on their letters. So I got my own back in that sense.”
Pundit Simon Jordan added: “I think the brilliant thing about Martin is you ask him a question and get an honest answer. I don't think that's about being bitter, I think it's about being bloody honest and we could do with a bit more of it in the world.”
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