Coventry City fans will remember Mustapha Hadji fondly.
The Sky Blues have been on the rise in recent years, and it appears like it will only be a matter of time before they return to the Premier League.
There has been play-off heartbreak, FA Cup semi-final drama, and managerial changes, but Coventry appear to be in excellent shape as a club and an outfit that fans can be happy to support on a weekly basis.
That hasn’t always been the case over the last two decades, as a variety of issues led the Sky Blues to groundshare, endure relegations, and seriously question whether their club had the resources to survive in the long run.
Coventry previously competed in the Premier League. In 1999, they had finished 15th in the Premier League and were trying to improve on that in the transfer market.
Impressive acquisitions arrived, including Robbie Keane, Carlton Palmer, and Stefano Gioacchini, all with the goal of helping Gordon Strachan’s team climb the standings and contend for a place in Europe.
That summer, Coventry made one major addition that jumps out and is still fondly remembered at the CBS Arena.
Mustapha Hadji employed different strategies to perform for Coventry City.
Along with the aforementioned individuals, Coventry paid £4 million for Deportivo La Coruna offensive midfielder Mustapha Hadji.
His brilliance was immediately apparent, and his technical ability quickly made him a fan favourite at Highfield Road.
The Moroccan international was dubbed “The Detonator” in his own country, a reference to his explosive impact on the pitch, and then-Coventry president Bryan Richardson characterized Hadji as “the most exciting signing in our history.”
Throughout his stint with the Sky Blues, he immediately established himself as one of their most significant players, frequently snatching points. He memorably scored late in the West Midlands Derby against Aston Villa to preserve a draw for Coventry, a feat he repeated frequently.
In August 1999, Hadji was almost ruled out of playing for Coventry due to a serious foot ailment, but he had another plan.
When the playmaker refused to accept shots into the area, he strapped a piece of raw meat to his foot. During the 1998 World Cup, an elderly Frenchman gave him the remedy, and Hadji played several such games in 1999.
Panic occurred when Coventry came for a game against Tottenham Hotspur without any meat for his foot, prompting a late appeal to the White Hart Lane caterers to solve the matter. However, with none available, a Sky Blues employee was compelled to go to a local butcher and purchase the meat there.
Hadji continued his great performances from 1999 to 2001, even with meat in his boot at times, and led Coventry ahead in his final season as they battled for relegation. One of his best performances came at Villa Park, where he scored twice in the first half as the Sky Blues needed a win to avoid relegation.
Despite his outstanding performance, Coventry were relegated, and Hadji was recruited by Villa in the summer for £2.5 million.
Mustapha Hadji’s quality has hardly been witnessed at Coventry City since his departure.
Coventry was relegated from the Premier League in 2001 and has yet to return, implying that the team lacks the resources to attract players like Hadji.
The Moroccan scored 12 goals in 62 games with the Sky Blues, but he is best recognized for his incredible technique and talismanic character.
Hadji was voted African Player of the Year in 1998, highlighting Coventry’s significant recruitment. Despite only having him for two seasons, Sky Blues fans got to see one of the Premier League’s best players play for their side.
Coventry fans have not had the same opportunity since, but their long-awaited comeback to top-flight football may not last much longer.
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