Surprise was in the air when Stockport’s assistant coach, Andy Mangan, was rumored to be on the brink of a remarkable move from the League One club to Real Madrid last week. However, the deal ultimately fell through due to work permit issues stemming from Brexit regulations. Despite Mangan’s failed attempt, there have been other instances of individuals successfully making the unlikely transition from the Football League to some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Following a series of impressive performances in League One with Tranmere, former Liverpool youth player Jennings made a move to Bayern Munich in 2011, becoming just the second Englishman after Owen Hargreaves to join the German side. The transfer hit a snag when Jennings initially failed his medical in Germany. Reflecting on the situation, Jennings shared, “They didn’t want to sign me. My agent managed to persuade them by pointing out that they were regarded as having the best medical staff in football, questioning why they were failing me over a hernia. They assured us they could take care of it, and ultimately, the deal was completed.”
Despite facing challenges such as injuries, homesickness, and struggling with the language barrier, Jennings never made a competitive appearance for Bayern’s first team. He returned to England after two years and went on to play for Barnsley, MK Dons, Runcorn Town, and most recently Prescot Cables.
In a controversial turn of events, Mears departed Derby under contentious circumstances, as it was revealed that the right-back had to sneak through a window and bypass Paul Jewell’s office at the training ground to retrieve his boots before meeting with Marseille officials. After being fined by Derby for attending a trial without permission, Mears secured a season-long loan to Marseille, where he made a memorable debut by scoring the winning goal in extra time against Ajax in the Uefa Cup. Despite this success, a permanent deal did not materialize, and Mears went on to play for Burnley, Bolton, and eventually in the MLS.
Sheffield United re-signed Deane, the first player to score a Premier League goal, for £1.5m in 1997 as they aimed for promotion. After a stint with the Blades, Deane received an offer from Benfica for £1m. Recounting his experience, Deane said, “There were definitely nerves because I understood the magnitude of the club, but I didn’t want to have any regrets. I was 29 at the time and I wanted to create stories. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, hoping it would lead to a move to Spain or Italy, which unfortunately did not come to fruition.” Despite his contributions to Benfica and a squad that included several fellow Brits, Deane returned to England with Middlesbrough after nine months in Portugal.
When Birmingham retired Bellingham’s No 22 shirt upon his departure to Dortmund in July 2020, there was some ridicule. However, with Bellingham now excelling at Real Madrid and recognized as one of the world’s top players, the decision doesn’t seem as absurd. Despite interest from Manchester United, Bellingham chose Dortmund for their commitment to providing immediate first-team opportunities. Reflecting on his decision, Bellingham stated, “There’s no better club in the world for developing young talent to the next level.” His time at Dortmund saw him score on his debut and earn a call-up to the England national team in quick succession, propelling him to further success.
