Joleon Lescott Everton
Joleon Lescott, a former Aston Villa defender, recently opened up about his experiences during his time at the club, shedding light on the emotional challenges faced by players. Lescott, who spent a season at his boyhood club, made 31 appearances and scored two goals. His tenure at Villa was marked by unexpected challenges, including being sidelined from training with the first team without explanation. This revelation was shared during a podcast, where Lescott discussed the emotional toll such decisions can have on players.
Joleon Lescott said: “I was told at Villa I couldn’t train with the first team for no reason. No reason at all. That wasn’t like – I need to play. And that’s the other side of the game where people don’t understand, players have feelings. Like I keep on saying this, we are human beings at the end of the day. And when certain things happen at a football club in board room level, then it trickles down into the coaches. Some of the coaches feel bad that they’re doing that to you.”
Lescott added: “This is a mad story. Now you’ve said that, that is crazy. Yeah. Because at the time Di Matteo was the manager of Villa, and I seen him, was it two years ago, the game at Stamford Bridge for Ukraine? So I was playing in that, and he came to me and he said I just want to apologise. I said just want to apologise for the way I treated you at Aston Villa and when you see Micah, tell him the same thing, and I was just like [taken aback]. Granted, he was being told [what to do] because he made me go and train with the reserves, he’s getting told that, ‘He can’t be involved in the squads, like we need to do what we do to get them out,’ and stuff like that.”
Lescott’s reflections highlight the often unseen emotional struggles that players face due to decisions made at the managerial and boardroom levels. His account underscores the human aspect of football, where players, despite their professional status, are deeply affected by the decisions that impact their careers. The former defender also recounted an encounter with his then-manager Roberto Di Matteo, who apologized for the treatment Lescott received at Villa. This apology was extended to fellow ex-Villa player Micah Richards, suggesting a broader acknowledgment of the emotional impact of management decisions.
The discussion also touched on the financial aspects of football, where player valuations and salary negotiations play a critical role. Lescott’s insights provide a rare glimpse into the complexities of football management and the personal challenges faced by players in navigating their professional journeys.
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