Vintage Sheri still going strong

Published : Dec 16, 2006 00:00 IST

Teddy Sheringham has played for a number of English clubs but his significant medals came during a four-year stint with Manchester United from 1997-2001, which included the famous treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 1999, writes Andy Hampson.

Teddy Sheringham, the veteran former England, Tottenham and Manchester United striker, is still making an impact in the Barclays English Premier League with West Ham at the age of 40.

Sheringham has enjoyed a long and successful career and has a contract with the Hammers until the end of the 2006-07 season, which will take him beyond his 41st birthday. He has played for a number of English clubs but his only significant medals came during a four-year stint with Manchester United from 1997-2001, which included the famous treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 1999.

Sheringham was also an important member of the England side for a number of years and will probably be best remembered for his role in the side's run to the semi-finals of Euro 96. Sheringham, a Londoner, first signed professional forms with Millwall at the age of 16 in 1982 after impressing for local club Leytonstone. He scored on only his second appearance for the Lions in January 1984 but it was not until after loan spells with Aldershot and Swedish side Djurgardens that he established himself at The Den.

He went on to form a lethal strike partnership with Tony Cascarino in the late 1980s, a period when Millwall briefly reached the top flight.

Sheringham was the club's top scorer in four consecutive seasons but when the club failed to win promotion back to the top flight in 1991 after relegation the previous year, he was sold to Nottingham Forest for GBP2 million.

He spent barely more than a season at Forest as Tottenham moved in to sign him for GBP2.1 million. He was an instant hit at Spurs, finishing as the Premier League's top goal-scorer in his first season and he continued to excel despite the club's indifferent form.

He was recognised as one of the best strikers in the Premier League by the mid-1990s and his international career had taken off but he still lacked a major trophy, and it took a GBP3.5 million move to Manchester United in 1997 to put that right.

His first season was a disappointment and chances became limited in his second campaign but that 1998-99 season ended on a glorious high. First United secured the Premier League title and then a week later Sheringham scored twice in the FA Cup final victory over Newcastle. The best was still to come as Sheringham came off the bench in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich and scored a stoppage-time equaliser. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer then completed an amazing turnaround. Another league title followed in 2000, but the following season was undoubtedly Sheringham's best for United in terms of performances as he scored 21 goals and won the PFA Player of the Year award.

Due to increased competition he decided to move back to Tottenham when his contract expired that summer. He spent another two seasons back at White Hart Lane and then had a year at Portsmouth.

His career appeared to be winding down as he stepped down a division with West Ham in 2004 but he enjoyed an outstanding year and was offered a new contract after the club won promotion. West Ham went on to reach the 2006 FA Cup final and Sheringham's appearance at 40 years and 41 days made him the third oldest outfield player to play in the showpiece.

Sheringham has always been regarded as an intelligent footballer but he has not always made the best decisions off the field. England manager Glenn Hoddle forced him to make a public apology after he was photographed smoking in a Portuguese nightclub prior to Euro 96.

The England squad had been embroiled in controversy after a high-profile drinking incident in Hong Kong just weeks earlier and Hoddle had told them to keep a low profile when giving them a short break before the tournament. Sheringham, however, was embarrassed when pictures were published in newspapers under headlines such as `Pathetic'.

Sheringham has lived well off the field and is a familiar face on the celebrity social circuit. He is presently preparing for a second career as a poker player after he retires from professional football.

He is currently dating 2006 Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd, 22. He was previously involved in a long-term relationship with Nicola Smith, the sister of former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman's ex-wife Mandy Smith. He has also been linked to a string of other celebrity beauties including Emma Davies and Jordan.

He has an 18-year-old son, Charlie, who is currently on the books at Crystal Palace.

FACTFILEName: Teddy SheringhamPosition: StrikerClub: West Ham UnitedDOB: 02/04/1966England Caps: 51England Goals: 11England debut: v Poland, May 1993.Moment to remember

Sheringham's best international performance came in a stunning 4-1 win over Holland at Wembley in the group stages of Euro 96. Sheringham and partner Alan Shearer both scored two as England produced one of their best performances for years and created a wave of euphoria that carried them to the semi-finals.

Moment to forget

In a quirky twist of fate, Sheringham made his United debut at former club Spurs. It proved an inauspicious start as, much to the amusement of the home fans, he missed a penalty.

© PA Sport, 2006, All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, re-written, re-distributed or commercially exploited. Sportstar is not responsible for any inaccuracy in the material.

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