Blackburn Rovers title-winner, Henning Berg, insists he couldn't turn down the managerial job at Ewood Park despite the risks attached.
Berg made nearly 200 appearances for Rovers over two periods with the club, including their historic Premier League title win, 30 years ago.
He also had a relatively brief stint in the Rovers dugout too. He was tasked with taking the reins after Steve Kean resigned in 2012 following relegation from the Premier League.
Berg only lasted 57 days before he was dismissed on December 27 after winning just one Championship game. Reflecting on his struggles at Ewood, he admitted there were obvious issues that he ignored because of his affiliation with Rovers.
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“When Blackburn Rovers approached me, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity, even though I recognised the risk involved, as the club had just been relegated from the Premier League," he told World Football Index.
"Unfortunately, my time there was brief, but I was willing to take that risk because of my history as a player with the club."
Despite that ill-fated stint in charge, Berg remains synonymous with the club for their Premier League title triumph, which celebrates its 30-year anniversary this year.
“I was really excited because Kenny Dalglish was the manager at the time, and of course, everyone knew about Kenny from his legendary days at Liverpool. That made it especially thrilling," he said on his reaction to Rovers' interest.
“I was also playing for the Norwegian national team at the time, and we had just faced England at Wembley. Competing against some of the best players in England—Gascoigne, David Platt, and others—was a fantastic experience. I believe we drew 1-1 in that game, and it was during that match that Blackburn started scouting me.
“Shortly after, they invited me for a training period so they could assess me further. It was definitely an exciting moment in my career.
“It was quite special because Jack Walker, having achieved great success in the steel industry, wanted to give something back to his hometown of Blackburn.
“Bringing in Kenny Dalglish as manager, along with the ability to sign top players like Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton, and Tim Flowers, was a testament to his ambition. At the same time, they also added more regular players like us to the mix, creating a well-rounded squad.
“The group of players was fantastic. Many of us were at the start of our careers, and for most, winning the league was the first major trophy we had ever experienced. It was an incredible time.
“Dalglish had a wealth of football knowledge, and we learned so much from him. He also had excellent coaches alongside him, like Ray Harford and Tony Parks, who made training both enjoyable and challenging.
“Dalglish struck the perfect balance between building a winning team and maintaining a light-hearted, relaxed atmosphere.
“It was a hardworking yet fun environment, and for me, moving to England and being part of that team was an amazing experience.
“Tim Flowers coming in as goalkeeper, for what was then a record transfer fee of £2 million, was a huge boost for the team. His presence made a big difference.
"Colin Hendry, with his vast experience after coming from Manchester City, was a dominant force in central defence, which was also invaluable.
“Graeme Le Saux and I were both young, while Tony Gale brought a wealth of experience, which helped to create a well-rounded backline. Ian Pearce, another young talent, also rotated in and contributed.
“There was a strong balance in the squad overall. Players like Tim Sherwood, who was relatively young but played with the maturity of someone much older, added to that blend.
“The mix of youth, experience, and quality throughout the team was one of the key reasons for our success.”
Rovers, of course, clinched the Premier League title at Anfield, despite losing to Liverpool on the final day of the season. Fortunately, Manchester United's draw meant they clinched the Premier League title which remains the club's most historic moment.
“It was both strange and special. We had led the league for such a long time, from November onward, and at one point, our lead was quite substantial," Berg reflected.
"But as the season progressed, United kept closing the gap. It all came down to the final day—if we lost and United won, they would take the title.
“We were up against Liverpool, and there were rumours that Liverpool might go easy on us because of Dalglish, their former manager, as they supposedly preferred him winning the title over United.
“Fortunately for us, United didn’t win, even though Liverpool beat us, so there could be no talk of anyone gifting us the title.
“It was a special day not only for Dalglish but for everyone at Blackburn, as we secured the league for the first time since 1912.
“For a small town like Blackburn to compete and win at that level was incredible. We had finished second the year before, so it felt like everything had been building up to that moment. To finally achieve it was really, really special.”
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