Steven Defour
Posted inDaily News Featured

#PLStories- Steven Defour on his time at Burnley and working with Sean Dyche #BURNLEYFC

February 19, 2022
FORMER Burnley midfielder Steven Defour says his time at Turf Moor was the highlight of his playing career. Defour joined the Clarets from Anderlecht in the summer of 2016 and went on to become a fan favourite in East Lancashire. However, the midfielder's time in the Premier League was impacted by injury and he left the club by mutual consent three years later. Defour announced his retirement last year and is now an assistant coach at Belgian club KV Mechelen. He returned to Turf Moor last week to work with Sean Dyche and company as he continues his development as a coach. “It felt like coming home. I still know three quarters of the people there from my period as a player," he told Het Laatste Nieuws. “Sean Dyche allowed me to follow everything. I attended staff meetings, participated in the preparation for the duels against Man United and Liverpool. I learned a lot. "Burnley was the best period of my playing career. Both in sports and privately. The fans appreciate me there. "I have always kept in touch with the coach. I regularly sent Dyche a message before a match. ‘Good luck, gaffer'. “Last June, just before I started the season at KV Mechelen as an assistant, he proposed to participate in the preparation in Burnley and then see what was possible, but that was difficult due to the Covid restrictions." Clarets on social, plus take out a subscription... Keep up to date with our Burnley coverage on social media by joining us on Facebook and Twitter Gain unlimited access to the Lancashire Telegraph website with a premium digital subscription Or if you want the Telegraph newspaper delivered to your door, get in touch with our home delivery team or call us on 0800 953 0227
Bruno Grau Brighton
Posted inDaily News Featured

#PLStories- Bruno Saltor speaks about his legacy at Brighton and Hove Albion #BHAFC

November 14, 2021
AN ALBION hero said he never could have imagined the legacy he has left with the Seagulls after coming to England as an adventure, but says there are still challenges “every single day”. Bruno Saltor joined the Albion on a free in 2012, making the switch from five seasons of top flight Spanish football with Valencia and Almeria, to a team who were beginning their second season in the Championship. The move was a risk for the then 32-year-old, who joined a growing Spanish contingent who had put faith in the eccentric Gus Poyet. That summer, Albion also brought in Andrea Orlandi and David Lopez who joined Vicente and Iñigo Calderon, who were already at the club. Albion’s senior player development coach told The Argus the move required adapting in almost every facet of his life. He said: “I came as an adventure. Not just myself, family wise as well. Not speaking any English, adapting to the culture, adapting to the food, adapting to everything. Bruno in the 2015/16 season, the season before he became captain. Picture by Liz Finlayson “It’s been a challenge every single day and that’s what I and my family love. Every day you are still learning with the language, still learning different ways to cook, different ways to see life. “It’s been an incredible journey but I never would have expected to get where I am right now. It feels like home, as I said not just myself but my family as well, we love Brighton.” Bruno’s last match before retiring was in the 18/19 season when Albion hosted Manchester City, scraping survival in their second ever Premier League season. Mural of Bruno in Church Street Albion’s club captain of three years, passed on his role to current captain, Lewis Dunk, and said in his post-match speech, “once a seagull, always a seagull”. One month later, it was announced he would move into a new role as a senior player development coach. Potter cited Bruno’s influence both “on and off the pitch” and said he was delighted the Spaniard was staying. It seemed a perfect match for the new coach to have a veteran who knows the club inside and out alongside him. Meanwhile, Bruno said how the “fit” of Graham Potter and the club is ideal. Bruno now plays a key role off the pitch. Paul Hazlewood/BHAFC The 41-year-old said: “Graham is another human being where he’s really aware of the society that he lives in. It’s so important the fit of Graham Potter as a person with Brighton and Hove Albion values. It just goes together really well. “Graham has always been trying to help players develop themselves, understanding every single player. Not just as a football player, but as human being as well. “After that he just gets involved with the society where he lives, the community that is Brighton.” Have you got a story for us? Email [email protected] or contact us here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news. Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox. You can also call us on 01273 021 400.