Ossie's Dream : My Autobiography

Ossie became the first foreign player to make an impact in the English First Division, paving the way for the modern era of multinational teams. Here, Ossie talks about his life as well as his unique perspective on the world of soccer. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Osvaldo César Ardiles was born near Córdoba in 1952 and played a pivotal role in Argentina's World Cup victory in 1978, part of 63 caps he won for his country. That famous ticker-tape win in Buenos Aires attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur manager Keith Burkinshaw, who brought Ossie and Ricardo Villa over to England in a £750,000 transfer that made headlines around the world. Ossie became an instant hit in English football, helping Spurs lift the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982 and the UEFA Cup in 1984 and going on to score 25 goals in 311 appearances in ten years at the club. After short spells with Blackburn and QPR, Ossie moved into management with Swindon Town and tasted success once more, taking the Wiltshire side via the playoffs into the top flight of English football for the first time, only to have promotion snatched away from them owing to irregular payments made to players before Ardiles' arrival at the club. Further managerial spells followed at Newcastle, West Brom (with whom he also won promotion), and then back to Tottenham where, despite an exhilarating attacking line-up, results did not go Ossie's way. Ossie has since managed clubs in Mexico, Japan, Croatia, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Israel, and Paraguay. When not managing, he divides his time between Hertfordshire and the south of Spain.