Marco Boogers
Encyclopedia
Marco Boogers is a Dutch former professional footballer
.
had never seen him play. Coming on as a substitute against Manchester United
at Old Trafford
in only his second appearance for the club, he was almost immediately sent off for a challenge on Gary Neville
. The press called it a horror tackle and suggested that Boogers was hired to injure a Manchester United player on purpose. Boogers himself claimed the wet grass made him slide too far and noted that Neville was able to finish the match. Nevertheless he got suspended for four matches. In November he returned as a substitute against Aston Villa
, a 4-1 loss. He played his last match a month later, on 2 December 1995, against Blackburn Rovers
; a 4-2 defeat. By then he had been suffering from worsening pain in his knee. After an MRI scan he underwent an emergency surgery. As his recovery would take three months he got permission from Redknapp to attend the birth of his son, on 28 December 1995, in the Netherlands. While Boogers worked on his recovery Redknapp signed another forward, Iain Dowie
, rendering Boogers surplus to requirements. In 2007 he was voted number 19 in The Times
poll of the "50 Worst footballers (to grace the Premier League)."
In fact the caravan story may be an urban myth, as Bill Prosser, who worked as West Ham United's PA and travel arranger at the time, told The Guardian
's The Fiver
. "Marco was depressed after being sent off in his second appearance for West Ham at Old Trafford and disappeared for a few days. West Ham's Clubcall
reporter phoned me and said he was trying to find Boogers for an interview but could not reach him. He asked if I had booked any flights for him. I told him I hadn't, but added: 'If he has gone back to Holland, he's probably gone by car again'. The reporter misheard me and stated on Clubcall that I had said 'If he's gone back to Holland, he's probably gone to his caravan'. As you know, journalists often listen to Clubcall. Which explains why, the following day, the back page headline in The Sun was: 'Barmy Boogers Living In A Caravan'. The legend endures and Marco Boogers never played for West Ham again. I feel a bit responsible for his misfortune.".
Redknapp berated Boogers in an interview as a poor player and claimed he never saw Boogers play and that he contracted him on a whim based on a videotape where he appeared to be a world class player. Boogers himself disputes this and says scouts from West Ham United attended several of his matches with Sparta before signing him.
He finished his career playing for FC Groningen, RKC
, FC Volendam
and FC Dordrecht
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
West Ham United
After a decade playing in his native Holland, Boogers joined West Ham for £1million from Sparta Rotterdam in July 1995 even though West Ham manager, Harry RedknappHarry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
had never seen him play. Coming on as a substitute against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in only his second appearance for the club, he was almost immediately sent off for a challenge on Gary Neville
Gary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years....
. The press called it a horror tackle and suggested that Boogers was hired to injure a Manchester United player on purpose. Boogers himself claimed the wet grass made him slide too far and noted that Neville was able to finish the match. Nevertheless he got suspended for four matches. In November he returned as a substitute against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, a 4-1 loss. He played his last match a month later, on 2 December 1995, against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
; a 4-2 defeat. By then he had been suffering from worsening pain in his knee. After an MRI scan he underwent an emergency surgery. As his recovery would take three months he got permission from Redknapp to attend the birth of his son, on 28 December 1995, in the Netherlands. While Boogers worked on his recovery Redknapp signed another forward, Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
, rendering Boogers surplus to requirements. In 2007 he was voted number 19 in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
poll of the "50 Worst footballers (to grace the Premier League)."
Caravan myth
During his absence due to his recovery the Sun newspaper was claiming he was depressed and had been found on a mobile home site in the Netherlands.In fact the caravan story may be an urban myth, as Bill Prosser, who worked as West Ham United's PA and travel arranger at the time, told The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
's The Fiver
The Fiver
The Fiver is a daily football email published by The Guardian newspaper's website, guardian.co.uk. It is delivered to subscribers’ inboxes at 17:00 Monday – Friday but does not appear in the print edition of The Guardian newspaper. Even though it is published by a UK based newspaper, The Fiver...
. "Marco was depressed after being sent off in his second appearance for West Ham at Old Trafford and disappeared for a few days. West Ham's Clubcall
ClubCall
ClubCall has been providing football coverage since 1986.-History:ClubCall was launched as a club-by-club telephone service by BT Supercall , the UK's first audiotext business set up by Kieran Levis following deregulation of the telecoms industry,which for the first time allowed fans to listen to a...
reporter phoned me and said he was trying to find Boogers for an interview but could not reach him. He asked if I had booked any flights for him. I told him I hadn't, but added: 'If he has gone back to Holland, he's probably gone by car again'. The reporter misheard me and stated on Clubcall that I had said 'If he's gone back to Holland, he's probably gone to his caravan'. As you know, journalists often listen to Clubcall. Which explains why, the following day, the back page headline in The Sun was: 'Barmy Boogers Living In A Caravan'. The legend endures and Marco Boogers never played for West Ham again. I feel a bit responsible for his misfortune.".
Return to the Netherlands
In February 1996 he was loaned out to FC Groningen for the remainder of the season. A few days before he was scheduled to play his first match the knee problems returned and worsened, sending him back in recovery until match 1997. Even though he was still under contract at West Ham United, he knew he would not play there again. Boogers last visited the club in February 1996 and never returned since then.Redknapp berated Boogers in an interview as a poor player and claimed he never saw Boogers play and that he contracted him on a whim based on a videotape where he appeared to be a world class player. Boogers himself disputes this and says scouts from West Ham United attended several of his matches with Sparta before signing him.
He finished his career playing for FC Groningen, RKC
Rkc
RKC may refer to:*RKC Waalwijk, an association football team in the Netherlands* RkC, RKC Rajkumar College, Rajkot, a K-12 school in the Indian state of Gujarat* Russian Kettle bell Challenge...
, FC Volendam
FC Volendam
Football Club Volendam is a Dutch football club based in Volendam, North Holland, Edam-Volendam. Founded on June 1, 1977, as a result of a split up with RKSV . It currently plays in the Eerste Divisie, holding home games at Kras Stadion, with a 6,260-seat capacity.-History:Football Club Volendam...
and FC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht is a football club from the city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie.- History :Founded on 16 August 1883 as Dordrechtsche Football Club , it became a professional club in 1954 upon the introduction of professional football to the Netherlands...
.