Ginola with the ex-wife of a Prime Minister

Published:

By: Manu Tournoux

AS Monaco faces Aston Villa this Tuesday (6:45 p.m.) in the Champions League and the Birmingham club doesn't say much to football fans in France. In addition to Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne who are currently playing in Unai Emery's team and Clément Lenglet and Moussa Diaby who left the Villans last summer, other French internationals have played in England's second city. This is the case of Didier Six, David Ginola, 98 world champion Robert Pirès or more recently Aly Cissokho, Charles N'Zogbia and Jordan Veretout.

Ginola, accused of being the culprit of the Blues' failure to qualify for the 94 World Cup, had a superb career in England. He became an idol at Newcastle and Tottenham, even being voted best player in the championship in 1999 with Spurs! His time at Aston Villa, from 2000 to 2002, went less well. “El Magnifico” was signed for 3 million pounds but, a year later, aged 33, he was removed from the team by his manager, John Gregory, who accused him of being
“too big” !

Ginola, the pressure stroke

The former PSG star player did not give up. “Gino” then obtained the support of the president of the footballers' association, Gordon Taylor, but also of a leading lawyer in the country, specializing in labor law, Cherie Blair, in order to put pressure on the leaders of Aston Villa. A media stunt therefore instigated with Cherie Blair, who was none other than the wife of Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time. This made headlines in the British tabloids.
An employer must not undermine the employee's confidence. Every employee has the right to discretion. If this right is violated, the employment contract is void. »was written in The Guardian.

“Gino’s” adventure thus turned sour. “I do what I want with my players”assured the Villans coach. The French striker played again and even taunted his coach by taking off his jersey during a goal against Manchester City. But the press clash put David Ginola in the sights of supporters, with the player also accused of still living in north London. The former Blue made 13 appearances (for two goals) in his second season at Aston Villa before joining Everton in February 2002, where he played the final seven matches of his great career.