Ian Holloway is one of football’s big characters.
He’s not what you’d call ‘normal’, Ian Holloway. And that is no bad thing. Most of the time, anyway. His eccentricities make him who he is, and in a world when both players and managers are becoming more robotic in the way they speak, it is sometimes refreshing to hear one of his wacky analogies.
Some of his best soundbites include saying “hopefully he’s hung like a hamster” about Cristiano Ronaldo and comparing not using video technology to living like cavemen. This story, though, might be his most bizarre.
During the 2012/13 season, Ian Holloway took over from Dougie Freedman at Crystal Palace and building on a strong start to the season, eventually took Palace up to the Premier League via the play-offs. Brazilian playmaker Andre Moritz played a key part in Palace’s promotion, scoring free kicks and creating chances for the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray to convert.
As is usually the case for most newly promoted sides, the summer was a busy one. There were many incoming players, many of whom never took off at Palace, and a few departures that surprised fans; Andre Moritz being one of them.
His departure from the club that summer has never fully been explained, but on Friday the player gave his side of the story, adding to the myth of Ian Holloway and his unorthodox methods.
All was agreed mate came down to training grounds for sign my new contract. All agreed, got there as we said 9am. Holloway told me he had a dream that i was not gonna be happy that year and released me. Believe me or not… as sad as it is
— Andre Moritz (@andremoritz10) February 16, 2018
Ian Holloway might deny that this is the case, it doesn’t exactly paint him as the most professional coach. If every manager decided who to release and who to keep based on their dreams the league table might look a bit different.
But then again it is Holloway. It would not be that surprising if it were the case.
You have to feel for the player here, whose Premier League dreams were crushed because of Ian Holloway’s dream.
