25 years ago: 'Big Ron' named Villa boss
Aston Villa would probably give their right arm for Roberto Di Matteo to have the sort of impact Ron Atkinson had when he was appointed boss.
Today marks 25 years since 'Big Ron' breezed into Villa Park oozing the charisma and chat that was so often his trademark,
The claret and blues had finished an unremarkable 17th the previous season under the one-year reign of 'Doctor' Josef Venglos, a bold move for him.
The Czech had become becoming the first manager born outside Britain or Ireland to take charge of a top division club in England when he arrived.
But Villa had again flirted with relegation - finishing just two places above the drop zone - four years after Graham Taylor returned them to the top-flight.
Taylor had also led them to be runners-up in Division One after promotion, with Venglos' work considered a backward step. With that, in came Atkinson.
The then 62-year-old had always wanted to be a part of the club, having come through their youth system before becoming a one-club player at Oxford United.
Atkinson had been raised in Birmingham, too, and still lives nearby in Barnt Green. When he came on board, it looked as if all parties were looking at the long-term.
He had left Sheffield Wednesday under a cloud, after taking them up from Division Two and leading them to the League Cup. He'd agreed to stay a week earlier.
After finishing seventh in his first campaign, he came as close to that elusive top-flight title as he ever would the following year, the first season of the Premier League.
His side were only bettered by old club Manchester United in 1992-93, with the 75-year-old and Kevin Keegan remaining the only two English bosses to finish second in the re-branded league.
A League Cup final victory followed in 1995, with Atkinson getting his own back on Manchester United by stopping them winning the treble, after winning both the league and FA Cup.
But no one was ever safe around notorious chairman 'Deadly' Doug Ellis and their deteriorating relationship finally imploded 18 months later, earning Atkinson the third sacking of his career.
He told the Express & Star in 2014: "I had been offered to manage Villa a few times over the years and, having been there as a kid, it was something I wanted to do.
"We had good players - an experienced bunch and a crop of younger players behind them.
"I always said Bryan Robson (at Manchester United and West Brom) was the best player I ever worked with, but the best value for money signing was definitely Paul McGrath.
"He cost me £30,000 from St Patricks at United and then he was there at Villa. Week in and week out, he was our best player.
"I still believe if Dalian Atkinson hadn't got injured at Christmas we would have won the first Premier League in 1993. We were flying at the time and he missed a big chunk.
"We had experience and youth, but the defence was solid and that's a vital part. We won the League Cup in 1994, so it wasn't a flash in the pan.
"Then Villa were having a blip, but it was only temporary. The chairman wanted me to buy players and I told him to save his money.
"I had plans to bring in Les Ferdinand (from Queens Park Rangers) and I'm sure I would have got him, plus another star who would have lifted the club.
"Doug was as 'Deadly' as everyone thought he was. On Saturday, he was on Football Focus calling me one of the top three managers in the country. He sacked me on the Tuesday."
His modern-day successor, Di Matteo, now has even more work on his hands to restore the glory days of old to Villa after his appointment, with Dr Tony Xia the club's new owner.
The 46-year-old Italian has all of the credentials, not only steering Chelsea to Premier League and Champions League honours but also taking West Brom up from the Championship.
Can he be another 'Big Ron' or a Taylor? That will take him, at least, two years as it did them. But, as top-flight champions Leicester City have proved, no fan should ever give up hope.
