ANEL Ahmedhodzic will forever be remembered as the man whose goal sealed Sheffield United’s promotion back to the Premier League.
Yet if it hadn’t been for the collapse of a French grandee, a dramatic change of heart and the bloody-minded persistence of Paul Heckingbottom, the 24-year-old wouldn’t have been at Bramall Lane at all.
Born in Sweden to Bosnian parents, Ahmedhodzic was playing for Malmo in the Allsvenskan when Heckingbottom first picked up the phone in January last year. Did he fancy relocating to the Steel City?
No, came the answer. Plagued by memories of homesickness during a teenage spell with Nottingham Forest, the defender politely declined and instead joined Bordeaux on a conditional loan.
Had Bordeaux survived relegation from Ligue 1 last season, an obligatory 4.5m euro fee would have been payable to make the transfer permanent. They failed, a 0-0 draw against Lorient in early May condemning the six-times champions to the drop.
For United, that fateful stalemate was a sliding doors moment of arguably greater significance than keeping Sander Berge, the Norwegian midfielder who was so convinced he’d be leaving last summer that he packed his bags and moved into a hotel.
Favourite
Because on Wednesday night, Ahmedhodzic wasn’t in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Persuaded into a rethink by Heckingbottom before making a £3m summer switch, he was in the six-yard box at Bramall Lane, expertly glancing Sam Baldock’s miscued shot high into West Brom’s net.
Already ahead through Berge’s 58th-minute tap-in, the goal clinched a 2-0 victory that gave the Blades an unassailable seven-point lead over Luton and ensured Premier League football will return to the Lane after a two-year absence.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 30, 2023 من The Football League Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 30, 2023 من The Football League Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
NUNEZ SPARKS ROUT OF IN-FORM TIGERS
NORWICH City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup was delighted with his side’s performance as they made it four wins in six games to maintain their climb up the table after a slow start.
SHAUN RUES SOFT LATICS' BORE DRAW
WIGAN manager Shaun Maloney had mixed emotions after his side drew at Stockport to make it six games unbeaten.
Bielik's words are own goal for Blues
IN MY early days at Brighton, we won back-to-back promotions and were practically unstoppable.
CLAIMS OF RACISM TO ASSISTANT MAR DRAW
PORTSMOUTH boss John Mousinho apologised to assistant referee Bhupinder Singh Gill for alleged discriminatory comments made from the stands during the draw with Oxford United.
WILDER'S PUSH FOR BIRTHDAY BOY RAK-SAKYI IS PAYING OFF
Hatters in slump as loan star hits brace
ARGYLE STUN ROVERS AFTER WAYNE SEES RED
PLYMOUTH assistant head coach Pete Shuttleworth praised Argyle’s never say-die attitude as the greens secured a last-minute win over high-flying Blackburn.
Former teen star is now real deal
FAMOUSLY, Karamoko Dembele was just 13 when he made his debut for Celtic’s under-20 side in 2016.
DERBY DATE SO VITAL FOR OMER
Interim boss has chance to boost bid
LINDSEY LINK-UP LIFTS LAURENCE!
LAURENCE Maguire has been reunited with Scott Lindsey at MK Dons - and believes his old boss is the right man to propel them into the League Two promotion shake-up.
I WANT TO ADD MORE ELLIOT
NEW Crawley Town boss Rob Elliot has promised evolution not revolution after stepping into the huge shoes vacated by Scott Lindsey.