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| Teddy Sheringham won everything as a player but his goal at Stevenage is to 'survive' |
WHEN Teddy Sheringham was a player, he wanted to win it all. Now he just wants to survive.
Sitting back in his half-empty office at Stevenage's training ground in rural Hertfordshire, the former England striker looks relaxed and content with life.
During a 25-year career in which he scored 288 league goals for nine different teams, Sheringham won virtually everything going in club football.
But his ambitions are different these days after he took the plunge into management in League Two.
"My goal is to survive. Simple as that," said Sheringham ahead of today's FA Cup second round tie at Yeovil.
"The statistic is that 70 per cent of first-time managers don't last six months, and they never get another job after that. So if I'm still here at the end of the season I'll have done okay."
As if to underline the point, Yeovil sacked their manager Paul Sturrock just before Sheringham gave this interview.
Stevenage made the play-offs last season. They are 10 points off a play-off place right now, and only 10 points above the relegation zone.
Sheringham's record is: won five, drawn seven, lost eight. But there are signs things are turning, with the club now unbeaten in five.
A placard by the side of the club's training pitch reads: 'Winning starts here!' and Sheringham was there to watch his reserves triumph 2-1 against Reading.
He said: "It could easily have been 'What the f*** am I doing here? I should be in the first team' from some of the players. But they're showing the right desire."
So is Sheringham.
His former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville is just about to take his first steps in management with Valencia - in the Champions League. So why here, and why now?
After quitting as a player, Sheringham toured the world playing poker, winning nearly £80,000 in one tournament alone in 2010.
"This was my first job offer," said Sheringham, who was speaking on behalf of williamhill.com, official partner of the FA Cup.
"It raised my eyebrows first of all. Would it be the right option? But I come here every day and think 'What a beautiful place to work'.
"It's very similar to my Millwall days. Another underdog club that likes fighting to achieve. I've had that all through my career. It kind of fitted really. I fancied the challenge.
"I played football for 25 years. It was time to come out and chill. I thought I'd take six months, a year, two years maximum. And I was six years out!
"I played golf. Went skiing. Holidays. Kids. Poker. I've always played cards. Three-card brag, shoot pontoon. I've been playing poker for 15/20 years.
"When I was out of football it was a good way of trying to earn a living. I was going around the world playing in tournaments in France, Portugal, America. They were fun times."
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| Sheringham celebrating after scoring Man United's late equaliser in the 1999 Champions League Final |
Sheringham, who will be 50 in April, even insists his card-playing skills have come in handy now he is a manager.
He said: "It definitely helps. Without a doubt. It's about being able to read people.
"To be able to read the way your players are reacting. Opposition managers. It all has a bearing."
Sheringham will always be remembered for scoring Manchester United's equaliser in the 1999 Champions League final. He won three league titles and the FA Cup with them too.
But he insists the buzz is the same whether it is winning in front of 60,000 at Old Trafford or 6,000 at Broadhall Way. Would he like United in the next round if Stevenage get there?
"Everybody wants the big tie in the third round," he said. "United or Arsenal, in their stadium, would be massive.
"It gives you a little bit of financial security. That's obviously what the cub want. Whether I would want that, playing Man Utd away, is another matter..."
Didn't he go into this to manage at places like Old Trafford one day though? "Well, right at this minute I'm pitting my wits against League Two managers," he said, smiling.
"Some of them have a lot more experience than me. You're pitting your wits against people who have been in the game a long time. It's tough. But it's exciting.
"Does it matter it's not 60,000 cheering you on at Old Trafford? No. It's the same feeling really. The same little buzz."
William Hill, official partner of the FA Cup, for the latest odds on all FA Cup action go to williamhill.com
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