During Doug Ellis' idiosyncratic reign as chairman of Aston Villa, it was claimed that of Britain's one million unemployed, around half were managers he had hired and fired. A cruel exaggeration, the managerial body count under 'Deadly Doug', as he was less than affectionately known, was a mere 13 in his 38 years in charge.
And not everyone was handed compulsary redundancy; Ron Saunders, for example, who assembled the side that won the English championship in 1981 and the European Cup the following season, chose to walk out, albeit it was rumoured, because of a disagreement with Ellis over team selection.
Now Villa have a new owner in American billionaire Randy Lerner (whose portfolio also includes the Cleveland Browns of the American NFL) and a new manager in Martin O'Neill who has guided the club into fifth place in the Premier League. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool may still regard themselves as the nation's 'Superpowers' but there is a growing feeling that under O'Neill's expert hand, the 'Big Four' are poised to become the 'Big Five'.
A European Cup winner under Brian Clough ("I looked on him as a bit of a smart-ass," said Cloughie of their relationship) O'Neill displays none of his mentor's conceit and delights in poking fun at his abilities as a player.
"When I was manager at Leicester City, our centre-forward, Emile Heskey, was jeered for the entire 90 minutes during one game against Leeds at Elland Road. Throughout my career I tried in vain to get away crowds to give me stick but I was never good enough. I'd have loved to have 40,000 fans baying for my blood but generally they didn't even notice I was playing."
Capped 67 times by his country, however, O'Neill is rightly proud of his achievements and when the Leicester City doctor appeared in his office one morning bearing a photograph of the Northern Ireland '82 World Cup squad to be used in a no-smoking promotion, the Ulsterman started reminiscing: "Gerry Armstrong, what a tournament he had. Look, there's Jimmy Nicholl."
"How come you know them?" the doc inquired innocently.
"Because," she was informed with a steely glare, "that's me in the middle of the front row. I was the bloody captain!"
O'Neill's managerial journey to Villa Park has been by a circuitous route, beginning at non-league Grantham Town where former club secretary Pat Nixon recalls: "His obsession was total, even when we were playing in front of three men and a dog. What best sums up Martin was after we'd lost at Spalding and he rang me up at one o'clock in the morning to ask if I thought their third goal had been offside. When I reminded him of the time, all he said was, 'Gerraway. Is that right...'?"
From Grantham to Wycombe Wanderers to Leicester where he led the club to two League Cup triumphs and into Europe before Glasgow Celtic came calling. One of nine children born and raised in a "Celtic mad" household across the Irish Sea in Kilrea, O'Neill took up his new position with the words of his late father, Leo, etched on his very soul. "If you ever get the chance to manage Celtic," dad advised, "walk to Parkhead, son."
O'Neill did not walk, preferring to arrive in style by jet plane and chauffeur-driven limo to the stadium, where thousands of Celtic supporters turned out in noisy acclamation. In his five seasons at Parkhead (before taking a sabbatical from football when his wife, Geraldine, was struck by lymphoma), Celtic won three league titles, three Scottish Cups, the League Cup and reached the Uefa Cup final in 2003. Passionate to the point of manic, former manager turned TV pundit Ron Atkinson says of O'Neill: "Martin runs up and down that touchline faster and more often than his number two John Robertson did during his playing days at Nottingham Forest.
Aston Villa fans have become accustomed to the sight, but as O'Neill says: "I will calm down either when I retire or die..."
As Irish as Riverdance, O'Neill can be scatty and clear-thinking at one and the same time, notoriously unpunctual yet painstakingly methodical, scrupulously courteous but prone to occasional verbal banana skins. Hence the reason he caused outrage when he welcomed back Leicester striker Ian Marshall from prolonged injury with the thoughtless observation: "People have recovered from Aids quicker." Such is the admiration and respect he commands, however, O'Neill was quickly forgiven.
O'Neill will talk football for hours, but off duty follows a vari ety of pursuits, not least criminology. Having studied law before embarking on a football career, O'Neill is fascinated by courtroom trials and murder scenes. After visiting the grassy knoll in Dallas, from where John F Kennedy may or may not have been assassinated, he jumped in a taxi to see the spot where Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald. When the cab driver admitted he was unsure of the way, such was his research that O'Neill was able to provide directions.
Will he remain at Villa Park or does an even bigger adventure await? Three years ago a reporter on one tabloid clearly thought he had solved the popular riddle of who will eventually replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford by publishing the revelation that Fergie and O'Neill had been spotted taking wine and breaking bread together at an out-of-the-way table in an out-of-the-way Italian restaurant in an out-of-the-way village in Lanarkshire. Putting two and two together the inference was clear. As well as passing over the freshly baked rolls, the Glaswegian was handing the Ulsterman his job on a plate.
Alas for the conspiracy theorists, when O'Neill read the detailed account of their supposed dinner date, his reaction was one of wry amusement rather than burning embarrassment that their cunning plot had been rumbled by an eagle-eyed waiter for whom the word 'exclusive' represented the Special of the Day. "Apart from the word 'the'," O'Neill disclosed, "the rest of the article was complete piffle."
Ferguson's companion, as it turned out, was his brother, Martin, who, as a Partick Thistle wing-half of the 1960s and United's present chief scout in Europe, has probably fulfilled all his ambitions in football and can be safely regarded as a definite non-starter in the managerial stakes.
It is a yarn that could yet come true, however...
rphilip@thenational.ae
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE'S%20YOUNG%20GUNS
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Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
