Hall of Fame: David Platt

David Platt's Crewe arrival in February 1985 heralded a new age in the way the club was run. Dario Gradi's friendship with then Manchester United coach Ron Atkinson paid dividends as the obviously talented 19-year old apprentice was rejected at Old Trafford and brought to Crewe for a second chance.

Dario described him as "physically fit and a marvellous box to box player" on his arrival in South Cheshire, he promised much and he delivered. Eleven goals in from midfield in his debut season lit up Gresty Road.

Scouts from England's top sides came to Crewe in vast numbers throughout the mid-late eighties, and they were obviously impressed. Aston Villa beat off huge competition to sign him for a meagre £200,000 in summer 1988. A goal scoring record of 61 goals in 134 appearances in all competitions said it all. He was bigger than the club. Dario Gradi agreed and grudgingly accepted the Midlands' side offer.

Platt's three years at Crewe had catapulted him onto the big stage; he was the most talked about youngster in English football. His development went further under then Villa manager Graham Taylor in his title chasing side, and Platt earned his first England cap only a few months after his Alex exit. A call up to Bobby Robson's England World Cup Italia '90 squad a year later hurled the youngster onto the world stage.

Platt's unbelievable volley in the late stages of extra time against Belgium was one of the greatest goals in World Cup history. England found themselves in the second round of the competition after narrowly progressing through the group stage after two draws and a win against Ireland, Holland and Egypt respectively. The second round game against the Belgians took place in Bologna's Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on a mild June night. The score was 0-0 with penalties only seconds away. Paul Gascoigne floated a last minute ball into the penalty area and Platt was at the end of it with an instinctive volley that was smashed past Belgium keeper Marc Prude-Homme.

England then faced Cameroon in Naples for the quarter-finals. Platt and Gary Lineker (with two penalties) saved the English blushes, as the Africans were narrowly beaten 3-2. The rest is history, as England succumbed to the Germans on penalties. Platt scored his penalty, but with Pearce and Waddle not on target, England were unceremoniously dumped out of the competition by their biggest rivals.

England’s lions returned to London as heroes, especially young stars Gazza and Platt, who found himself on a plane back to Italy when Serie A side Bari paid Villa a British record £5.5m for his services. One season later, after scoring eleven goals for Bari, one of the biggest sides in Europe (never mind Italy), Juventus, broke the bank when they splashed out £7m for Platt. It was a return to the Delle Alpi, the ground where England were defeated by Germany in 1990 for Platt, for one of Europe’s hottest properties.

He joined up with Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Baggio and Didier Deschamps for the Nerazzuri, but despite early promise, the Turin side could not fend off Milan’s dominance of early 1990’s Italian football.

Platt’s stay in Turin was short-lived, as he was sold to Sampdoria in a deal worth £5.2m in July 1993. Two seasons of mid-table obscurity in Genoa were ended when Bruce Rioch brought him back to England to play for Arsenal for £5m. Platt, now 29, was still commanding big transfer fees for the time.

Euro ’96 was one of Platt’s highlights as he led England as captain to the semi-

finals of the competition, oh so nearly to the final as England went out on penalties to the Germans once again.

In Arsene Wenger’s first Arsenal revolution, Platt was inspirational, and fifteen goals in his three years at Highbury along with a League and FA Cup Winners medal in 1998 were his reward.

He retired from football at the end of the season and went onto coach England youth sides with the FA, but his first proper job was as manager with old club Sampdoria as manager, but it was a torrid time for him. He was banned from the touchline because of a complicated Italian law regarding foreign coaches. Just seven weeks into the job, he parted company.

In July 1999, 32-year old Platt succeeded Ron Atkinson at Nottingham Forest as player-manager, scoring one goal in seven appearances. His English managerial career could not have got off to a worse start as he won only 37 games from 120; overspending the already tight Forest funds and seeing the club go down the table. They flirted with relegation in both seasons with Platt at the helm. He was replaced with youth coach Paul Hart two years later when he was appointed England under-21 coach. Forest fans are still extremely bitter about the plight of the club under Platt.

Adam Crozier and Sven Goran-Eriksson were extremely eager for Platt to undertake the England u-21 job. Platt played under Eriksson at Sampdoria, and was instrumental in his appointment. Platt was seen as the long-term successor to the Swede when he joined the FA.

His record at England under-21 is pretty dismal, and despite his insistence that he will manage the senior squad, he looks further away than ever of fulfilling his dream. He recently picked current Alex protégé Dean Ashton for the under-21s.

Platt was the first in the long line of youth products to come out of Crewe after being rejected as an apprentice. He went onto become England captain and to play for some of the biggest sides in world football. His combined transfer fees add up to £23m over his career.

He is without doubt the most famous Crewe player of all time. The CreweAlex.com Hall of Fame wouldn’t be complete without him.