Philippe Albert on his experience in the Premier League: « Anderlecht has always been more of a business, Newcastle was a family »

You once said in the English press that Anderlecht was a business, Newcastle a family. Why?

ALBERT : Keegan wanted there to be this conviviality in the club and within the core. Anderlecht is the most successful club thanks to this vision of things and so much the better. In my time, it was a tragedy if we weren’t champions, at least half the time. Keegan believed that in order to create something on the pitch, you also had to create something off it. That’s why he was behind weekends abroad. When we were free, the complete nucleus left for two or three days in Scotland or Ireland. We cleared our minds, we played golf…

You were clearly encouraged to hang out…

ALBERT : We could, yes. In the morning, we trained, half an hour or three quarters of an hour. We played golf in the afternoon and in the evening we went out together. The players on their side and the staff on their side. It was a form of team-building. Afterwards, it’s always the same thing: there are those who support and those who support less well ( He’s laughing). We paid more attention to those. Some went into a spin and there, we put them in a taxi for the hotel. Me, I was 27 years old, I also had experience at this level. In general, I was one of the last.

With whom?

ALBERT : There were two who were very strong: Darren Peacock and Steve Howey. Two defenders with whom I was also associated in the field. We had some amazing times. On Mondays, when there was no match during the week, we went to the restaurant. We agreed to meet at 6:30-7:00 p.m. and we had to come back at 2:00 a.m. because the restaurant was closing. The next day, we were on the pitch at 10 a.m. for a double session. It was more than a custom, it was the norm. All the clubs were doing it at that time. That changed with the arrival of foreign coaches, who had another vision of things. The difference, too, is that the clubs were only allowed to register three foreigners. So, in my team, there were almost only English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish. Their mentality is the same. When you have a 90% British core, you fit into the mould. And that mentality fit pretty well with mine…

Find this complete interview in our monthly published on February 4 or in our Zone +

You once said in the English press that Anderlecht was a business, Newcastle a family. Why? ALBERT: Keegan wanted there to be this togetherness in the club and within the core. Anderlecht is the most successful club thanks to this vision of things and so much the better. In my time, it was a tragedy if we weren’t champions, at least half the time. Keegan believed that in order to create something on the pitch, you also had to create something off it. That’s why he was behind weekends abroad. When we were free, the complete nucleus left for two or three days in Scotland or Ireland. We cleared our minds, we played golf… We clearly encouraged you to hang out… ALBERT: We could, yes. In the morning, we trained, half an hour or three quarters of an hour. We played golf in the afternoon and in the evening we went out together. The players on their side and the staff on their side. It was a form of team building. Afterwards, it’s always the same thing: there are those who support and those who support less well (he laughs). We paid more attention to those. Some went into a spin and there, we put them in a taxi for the hotel. Me, I was 27 years old, I also had experience at this level. In general, I was one of the last. With whom? ALBERT: There were two who were very strong: Darren Peacock and Steve Howey. Two defenders with whom I was also associated in the field. We had some amazing times. On Mondays, when there was no match during the week, we went to the restaurant. We agreed to meet at 6:30-7:00 p.m. and we had to come back at 2:00 a.m. because the restaurant was closing. The next day, we were on the pitch at 10 a.m. for a double session. It was more than a custom, it was the norm. All the clubs were doing it at that time. That changed with the arrival of foreign coaches, who had another vision of things. The difference, too, is that the clubs were only allowed to register three foreigners. So, in my team, there were almost only English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish. Their mentality is the same. When you have a 90% British core, you fit into the mould. And this mentality stuck rather well with mine… Find this complete interview in our monthly published this February 4 or in our Zone +