Unsung European Heroes #1 - Patrice Loko

The French managers new training methods confused Loko somewhat
 

As part of this blog I aim to have a regular series of unsung heroes of european football - the guys who were cult figures to many but not the superstars everyone else knew about.

Step forward one, Patrice Loko. The reason I have included him is that when I was growing up he seemed to my friends and I an almost tragi-comic figure. To be fair to him this is probably totally incorrect but we were young. I just remember in a lot of games him being really unlucky in terms of missing chances and general play. He always seemed to hit the post when he was odds on to score or fall over his own feet when running through on goal.

And what about the hair?! I remember him having a really gelled up spiky do at one point and like mini sort of dreadlocks another time that just made him stand out. Which was a shame cos when he had some twist of fortune you would instantly know it was him.

The abiding memory I have is of playing Sensible World of Soccer with my mates and us always buying him so we could laugh at the hapless Loko when he missed another chance.

Sorry Patrice - I would encourage you to look up his stats cos actually he was pretty good but he was my hero for the above reasons.