I was axed from FA Cup final squad after fight with Fabrizio Ravanelli – now I’m taking my first steps in management
NEIL COX’S biggest regret was missing the 1997 FA Cup final for Middlesbrough following a punch-up with team-mate Fabrizio Ravanelli hours before kick off.
And York City’s assistant manager is hoping to deliver another knockout blow to former winners Wigan on Friday.
Twenty-six years ago, Bryan Robson’s Boro had just been relegated from the top flight before facing Chelsea in the Wembley showpiece.
Italian striker Ravanelli was their top scorer but had missed the last two league games with a hamstring injury.
And former defender Cox told SunSport: “I was asked in an interview before the final what the team should be and I picked Mikkel Beck up front over Ravanelli because he’d been away in Italy for ten days.
“He read the article just before we had a team picture taken in our suits on the morning of the game, and he wasn’t happy.
“I’d just said we needed a fit team but he took offence to it. He spat at me first, throwing a few haymakers before I retaliated before it all got broken up.
“As it turned out, our friend Ravanelli played 20 minutes without making a run and then his hamstring went. That cost us the game.
“I had missed a couple of games with a hamstring problem but I was hoping to be a sub, though that incident probably changed the manager’s mind.”
Roberto Di Matteo’s stunning goal after 43 seconds put the Blues ahead before Eddie Newton made it 2-0 late on.
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Cox added: “Not being involved is a huge regret as growing up the FA Cup final was one of the biggest games you could be involved in.
“We’d lost the League Cup final as well, so what could have ended up being one of Middlesbrough’s best seasons in history turned into a nightmare.
“But that all happened in 1997. I don’t really look back and we’ve got a huge opportunity tonight against the past winners of the competition. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
Cox moved to York alongside manager Neal Ardley in September, with the Minstermen languishing towards the bottom of the fifth tier.
While they are still in a relegation dogfight, tonight offers the players a golden chance to put themselves in the hat for the third round.
York, who have not got that far since 2011, have seen off Needham Market and Chester so far.
Veteran goalkeeper David Stockdale, 38, will be looking to roll back the years, while top scorer Dipo Akinyemi will provide their greatest threat up front.
And Cox said: “I had my time, now it is up about us settling our stall out and hopefully getting that bit of luck.
“It’s going to be tough if they turn up but you never know so it’s about us staying in the game.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, the FA Cup is so important, especially for clubs lower down.
“Can we get to the third round and have a trip to an Old Trafford or an Anfield?
“That’s what we’re looking for.”