Fall From Grace: Sergei Rebrov
An expensive mistake: Rebrov joined Spurs for £11m
Big things were expected of Sergei Rebrov when he signed for Tottenham in 2000. The Ukrainian striker struck up a fruitful partnership with Andrei Shevchenko whilst at Dynamo Kiev scoring 139 goals in 284 appearances at the club and become the highest goal scorer in the history of the Ukrainian league.
In the 1999-2000 Champions League Rebrov was joint top scorer as he hit 10 goals in 16 games, further boosting his profile in Europe.
A year before Shevchenko had moved to Italian giants AC Milan thus many thought that Rebrov too would join one of Europe’s elite clubs. So when Tottenham announced they had signed him in June 2000, it was somewhat of a mini coup for the north London club.
Rebrov looked like he had what it took to crack the Premier League; an eye for goal, good aerial ability and a turn of pace but for some reason it just didn’t click for him.
He made a slow start to his Spurs career as he clearly tried to adapt to the step up in quality from his days at Kiev and finally got his first goals with a brace against Everton. But a return of 12 goals in his debut season was not enough for Spurs record signing who had scored 20 or more in his 4 previous seasons.
It didn’t help that he found himself out of favour after Glen Hoddle took over from the sacked George Graham. Under Hoddle he would go on to spend the majority of his time sitting on the bench where he would make he make the majority of his appearances from.
In a derby game against Arsenal after scoring the opening goal, he was taken off with 10 minutes to go. Rebrov, like the fans clearly did not understand why he was substituted and it was made even worse when Arsenal equalised at the death through Patrick Vieira.
The game was typical of Rebrov’s career as in one of football’s worst cases of mismanagement, Rebrov went from one of football’s brightest talents to a self doubting bench warmer.
Spells at Fenerbahce and West Ham failed to revive his career and in 2005 he finally ended his nightmare in England when he returned to Dynamo Kiev, where he now operates as assistant to the reserve coach.
Rebrov’s career will look even worse when held up to Shevchenko’s (who would go on to have his own nightmare spell at Chelsea). Whilst Rebrov sat on the bench, his former strike partner would enjoy an illustrious career winning the Serie A, the Champions League and the Ballon D’or amongst other awards.
But in 2008, any sympathy people may have had for Rebrov disappeared when he was caught up in a race row. Rebrov, offering new Tottenham signing Roman Pavlyuchenko advice, claimed:
“I wouldn’t go for a walk on my own around White Hart Lane. A lot of dark-skinned people live there. So naturally the crime rate is higher than anywhere else. It’s not nice to be a robbery victim. So I suggest that Roman doesn’t walk but drives around that area.”
Rebrov career will forever be a metaphor for failure but not so much due to his own ability rather how he was mismanaged at White Hart Lane.
I’m sure he must still ask himself why he agreed to move there.
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This article is factually incorrect in so many ways… Since when was Rebrov good in the air? He was about 3 foot tall for Chrissakes. I hate to defend Hoddle as a manager but Rebrov showed nothing on the occasions he was given a chance. Bad signing, bad management, bad article.
This is bullsh*t and reminds me of the phonies that get up at funerals and speak highly of the dead when the deceased in fact was an ar*ehole.
Rebrov was found out to be nothing more an average footballer. It was clear that Sheva made him. Clear enough to us Spurs fans that watched him play. You sir have selected memory loss.
Maybe Rebrov wasn’t cut for the Premier League but I wouldn’t say that he was a bad player. Even if it is the Ukrainian league – a goal scoring record like that shows he must have ability – he just couldn’t cut it in the Premier League – happens to a lot of players and will continue to
He was 5 ft 8 and scored his fair share of headers. In the Champions League he got goals against the likes of Bayern Munich and Lazio, he wasn’t cut out for the Premier League but who knows what he could have achieved elsewhere?
Achieved elsewhere? he was given his chance the guy was just rubbish no 2 ways about it
i hate it when people who know nothing about football say a player is rubbish if somehow he doesn’t cut it a particular league.he was a good striker and his champions league record shows that but some players just don’t suit certain leagues.is sheva a rubbish player because he flopped at chelsea? no way he is and his record in italy and trophies won with milan prove that.true rebrov was a flop for spurs but no way a bad player.there is a big difference.