OSSIE ARDILES HAS ONE UP ON FELLOW ARGENTINE CARLOS TEVEZ

ABOVE: David Pleat believes Ardiles was a great player and thinker

To me, Ossie will always be the greatest Argentine footballer ever to play on those shores.

David Pleat

23rd June 2013

By Daily Star reporter

OSSIE ARDILES will always be honoured as the greatest Argentine player to star in England – not Carlos Tevez.

That is the opinion of David Pleat, who was boss at Tottenham towards the end of Ardiles’ ten-year career at White Hart Lane.

Ardiles joined Spurs with compatriot Ricky Villa after the 1978 World Cup and both were instant hits.

Pleat said: “To me, Ossie will always be the greatest Argentine footballer ever to play on those shores. He was a great player, a great thinker.

“Ossie was perpetual motion. He always gave the ball early and was a very clever thinker, like Alan Ball before him.

“He rarely got caught in possession and was a very clever man.

“When I managed Luton the players would go to bed early before a game.

“But at Spurs Ossie and the other players would stay up and play chess. Yes, I had a bright group, Ossie being one of them.

“Despite the baggage, though, Tevez is up there as a player. He has brought a lot of fun and excitement to our game.”