Sometimes in life, the preferred choices aren't always the choices that bring you the happiness and success you expect, and if Tony Pulis hadn't have been appointed Stoke City manager in October 2002, I do wonder whether I would've experienced some of the great memories I now have to cherish forever. Ten years ago this week, Stoke City Football Club arranged a press conference to announce the appointment of their new manager, this manager wasn't a Welshman, however, he was a Scotsman. George Burley had sat with Icelandic Chairman Gunnar Gislason in the director's box during Stoke's midweek defeat at home to Watford, and a press conference had been arranged for the next morning to announce his appointment. In the eyes of the Football world, his appointment was a formality, but by the time the appointed hour had arrived, Burley was already on the road back to East Anglia. His reasons for this u-turn still remain unclear, but for whatever reason, he had no intention of taking the job. So in stepped Tony Pulis to take over as Stoke City manager with the primary task of keeping the club in Division One.
He certainly wasn't the fans preferred choice, his arrival was met with much negativity and doubt amongst sections of the support, and this became alarmingly visible after just 70 minutes of his Potters reign. Pulis's opening game was a trip to the Bescot Stadium to face Walsall, and it's fair to say the honeymoon period was over very quickly. A crushing 4-2 defeat for the Potters, and cries from the travelling support of " you don't know what you're doing " as Pulis replaced fans favourite Bjarni Gudjonsson with Andy Cooke. It took 10 games until Tony Pulis finally recorded his first victory as Stoke manager, a 3-2 triumph over Sheffield Wednesday with a stoppage time winner from Brynjar Gunnarsson. As we entered the new year, things begin to look very bleak, following a new years day victory over Preston, we would find ourselves recording only one more victory between January 1st and March 5th. With 12 fixtures left to play, survival began to look an impossibility, but with some shrewd business, including the loan signing of goalkeeper Mark Crossley, Stoke would begin to turn things around. Two defeat in 12 fixtures gave Stoke a fighting chance of completing the great escape, and it came down to the 46th and final game of the season, and a narrow 1-0 victory over Reading thanks to Ade Akinbiyi's goal that would keep the Potters in Division One. Relegation was avoided, and Pulis to this day has still never relegated any team as a manager. Two more successful seasons followed under Pulis's reign as Stoke became an established Division One outfit with consecutive mid-table finishes of 11th & 12th, but as the Summer of 2005 arrived, Pulis's 3 year spell as Stoke manager would came to an end.
In June 2005, Tony Pulis was sacked as Stoke City manager by Chairman Gunnar Gislason for his failure to exploit the foreign markets. The Icelandic Board moved quickly and drafted in a relatively unknown manager, Dutchman Johan Boskamp. Boskamp had managed a range of teams prior to the Stoke position including Anderlecht, Dinamo Tbilisi and Georgia National team, but this was his first experience of English Football. He set about changing Stoke's style of play to a more European passing style, and whilst the attacking football improved, the defensive qualities faltered, and Stoke would go on to record their lowest finish in Division One since 2002-03 season, 13th. Following a fall out with the board and run of 1 win in 10 games, Boskamp was not offered a new contract, and Stoke again would find themselves managerless.
With club debts now in the region of £5 million, chairman Gunnar Gislason put the club up for sale, and the club would eventually be sold back to former Stoke chairman, Peter Coates. The arrival of Coates wasn't to be the only dramatic return the Potteries, as Coates set about bringing current Plymouth Argyle manager Tony Pulis back to the club. In June 2006, following a month of negotiations with Plymouth, Pulis was appointed as Stoke City manager for the second time. Coates and Pulis had one clear vision, to gain a long awaited return to top flight Football for Stoke City, and Coates financially backed Pulis in a bid to help move things forward, and high profile signings including Danny Higginbotham, Ricardo Fuller, Liam Lawrence and Lee Hendrie would help Stoke to form a push for promotion. Despite a season filled with many positives, Stoke would miss out on a play-off place on the final day of the season following a 1-1 draw at QPR, and would finish 8th on 73 points. There was obvious disappointment at failing to secure a play-off place, but there was plenty of encouragement to take into the 2007-08 campaign, and maybe, just maybe this could be Stoke's year.
Pulis strengthened the squad again, most notably with the signing of Manchester United youngster Ryan Shawcross for a fee of £1 million pounds, and Shawcross would make an instant impact with a debut goal as Stoke took all 3 points at Ninian Park in the opening game of the season. It wasn't quite the explosive start many had hoped for though, as November came Stoke were occupying a mid-table position, but several key loan signings saw Stoke embark on an incredible run of 1 defeat in 18 games. This pushed the club into the top 2, and promotion begin to look a realistic possibility. On a cold Februrary night at Deepdale, however, Stoke would be brought back down to earth with a 2-0 defeat. This defeat would then spiral a run of just 1 victory in 8 league games, and doubts began to creep in. On April 12th, the Potters made the short trip to Coventry City's Ricoh Arena for undoubtedly the biggest game of their season so far, and goals from Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller gave Stoke all 3 points. The belief was back. Next up was a home tie with fellow promotion chasers Bristol City, and a brace from Mamady Sidibe would give Stoke another 3 points. There was two games left to play, and Stoke travelled South to take on relegation strugglers Colchester United in what would be their final fixture at Layer Road. Stoke broke the deadlock right on half-time through striker Richard Cresswell, and as it stood, Stoke were returning to the top flight. As the time ticked by, Hull City were still being held by Crystal Palace, and it would take 85 minutes, and a goal from Ian Ashbee to secure Hull City all 3 points and deny Stoke promotion to the Premier League. It came down to the final game of the season, Stoke hosted relegation strugglers Leicester City, whilst Hull City travelled to Portman Road. The task for Stoke was simple, avoid defeat and promotion was secured. On May 4th 2008, In-front of a sold out Britannia Stadium, Stoke held on for a 0-0 draw in a tense and cagey 90 minutes and secured 2nd place, the 23 year wait for top flight was over. Tony Pulis had guided Stoke to the Premier League.
If Pulis's 5 year reign as Stoke manager wasn't already surreal enough, what would follow would surpass the imagination and expectation of even the biggest optimists. The year of 2008 presented Pulis with the same task he faced when he was first appointed back in 2002, avoiding relegation at all costs. Avoiding relegation in the best league in the world, however, the Premier League, would probably be the toughest challenge he had faced in his managerial career so far. Stoke's season opener came at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, and a harsh lesson would be handed out to Pulis's men a convincing 3-1 defeat, and a timely reality check of the scale of the task ahead. Bookmakers Paddy Power famously paid out on Stoke being relegated after this opening encounter, a decision they would later come to regret. Stoke's first home game of the season was the visit of midlands rivals Aston Villa, and a 3-2 victory for the Potters would send out a message to the rest of the division about the task they faced when they visited the Britannia. Home form would prove the catalyst to Stoke's success, with Stoke recording 10 victories out of their 19 home games, and just 4 defeats. Stoke's away form would leave a lot to be desired, however, with only 2 wins from a possible 19, but the 35 points secured at the Britannia Stadium would be enough to ensure Stoke survived the drop, and it would be achieved with 2 games to spare following a 2-1 victory at Hull City. Pulis guided Stoke City to a 12th place finish, an unbelievable achievement.
Another season of solidarity and progress would follow in 2009-10 as Stoke recorded an 11th place finish along with a run to the FA Cup Quarter-final. Whilst the home form wasn't quite as impressive as the 2008-09 campaign, but the away form improved greatly with 4 wins, 8 draws and 7 defeats. Pulis was slowly moulding Stoke into an established Premier League outfit.
The 2010-11 campaign would see Pulis make history once again and become the first manager in the 150 year history of the club to take Stoke City to an FA Cup Final. In the eyes of many Stoke fans, this was the greatest season the club had ever experienced in it's existence, the scale of achievement was beyond anyone's imagination. The first of two trips to Wembley came in the FA Cup semi-final as the Potters entertained Owen Coyle's Bolton Wanderers. Both sides were similarly positioned in the league and a closely contested encounter was predicted. Stoke started the brighter and gained an early lead on 11 minutes when Matthew Etherington capitalised on a mis-placed pass from Paul Robinson and unleashed a fierce shot from 20 yards passed Jussi Jaaskelainen. It took just 6 more minutes for the lead to be doubled, when centre-half Robert Huth latched on to a weak headed clearance from Gary Cahill and struck the ball on the half volley from outside the area past the despairing Jaaskelainen. Stoke were in dream land, and things were about to get even better. The next goal came 13 minutes later, Martin Petrov surrendered possession, Jermaine Pennant broke and slipped a perfectly weighted through ball through to striker Kenwyne Jones and he calmly slotted home. Bolton began to show some fight, but the tie was well and truly decided on 68 minutes when Jon Walters carried the ball from near the half-way line and produced a perfectly place strike into the bottom left corner from all of 25 yards, a fine solo goal. The fifth and final goal came on 81 minutes, Jon Walters again getting on the end of a deflected cross from Kenwyne Jones. April 17th 2008 would be a day that Stoke supporters would never forget, Stoke recorded the highest FA Cup semi-final victory in 69 years, and booked a place in the final on May 4th against Roberto Mancini's Manchester City. In reaching the FA Cup Final, Stoke had qualified to compete in the Europa League for the 2011-12 season, the first time Stoke had competed in Europe since the 1974-75 season when they were knocked out by Dutch giants Ajax. Another landmark achievement by manager Tony Pulis. Man City were clear favourites going in to the FA Cup final, and despite a spirited and determined effort from Stoke City, they would reign victorious to clinch their first major trophy in 35 years. Yaya Toure's thunderous finish on 74 minutes was the difference. Stoke's 40,000 support stayed until well after the final whistle and applauded their players in appreciation of a remarkable journey. The FA Cup was without question the highlight of Stoke's season, but despite their cup success, their league form also remained solid and another season of mid-table safety was secured with a 13th place finish. Fortress Britannia would once again prove to be a tough place to visit as Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton and Newcastle were among many clubs who left empty handed.
So on to the 2011-12 campaign, another season that will live long in the memory of Stoke City supporters. The novelty of European Football meant that Stoke's competitive campaign got under way as early as July 28th, when they face Hadjuk Split in a two-legged Europa League Third round qualifier. Despite Split's wealth of European pedigree and experience, Stoke would progress 2-0 on aggregate winning both legs 1-0. Stoke had surpassed many people's expectations in getting past Hadjuk Split, but they weren't finished there. Next up was Swiss side FC Thun in the play-off round, Stoke knew an aggregate win would guarantee them qualification the group stages and a minimum of six more fixtures. Stoke again cruised to victory, winning 5-1 on aggregate. So it was Group Stage Europa League football for Stoke City, dizzy heights indeed, and a very tough group to face including Besiktas, Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Stoke would yet again go on to defy the odds, 3 wins and 2 draws was enough to see the Potters claim 2nd place and book a place in the last 32 with fantastic victories against Tel Aviv and Besiktas. What an achievement this had been, with only 1 defeat from 10 European games for Pulis's men. Awaiting them in the last 32 was one of the tournament favourites, Spanish giants Valencia. Whilst there was disappointment at drawing one of the toughest possible opponents, Stoke's support were determined to bask in the glory of the occasion whatever happened. And that they did, a sell out crowd at the Britannia Stadium, and a following exceeded 6000 travelling over to Spain to witness this historical occasion. Valencia went on to progress with a 2-0 an aggregate win, but yet against Pulis's team had achieved more than anyone could begin to imagine. As a result of 12 European matches and 6 domestic cup matches, Stoke's league form failed to reached the heights it had in previous seasons, but comfortable safety was secured again as Stoke finished in 14th place on 45 points.
Tony Pulis's achievements as Stoke City manager speak for themselves, and whilst his style of Football may not be appreciated by the game's purists, nobody can question the success he has delivered. From the Bescot to the Mestalla, Pulis has taken Stoke City from Championship relegation fodder to Premier League stability, European football and an FA Cup Final, He has given Stoke fans of all ages experiences that they never believed they would ever witness. The transformation of this club in recent years has been a fairytale story, and whatever happens in the future, we will always be forever grateful.
In my opinion, Tony Pulis is the greatest Stoke manager in the history of the club, and hopefully we have plenty more great moments to come under his leadership.
In Pulis we trust.
In Pulis we trust.
