Ossie Ardiles

Former professional footballer, pundit, and manger, Ossie Ardiles is a key figure in the football world and is highly regarded as an excellent football speaker.

Synonymous with Tottenham Hotspur’s glory days he played for over a decade at the club throughout the 80s and is one of their most recognisable legends. Beginning with the team in 1978 he was hailed as a skilled midfielder, who helped Tottenham win the FA Cup. After a brief loan to Paris Saint Germain, he returned to be a pivotal role in Tottenham winning the 1984 UEFA Cup. In addition to his successful English club career, Ardiles made fifty-two appearances for Argentina, inlcuding being a part of the 1978 World Cup winning team.

Although he was always praised and adored by fans and players alike, Ossie Ardiles’ career was fraught with controversy, surrounding the Falklands War. After the war broke out between England and Argentina he was politically unable to return to Tottenham, so was loaded to Paris Saint Germain. However, resilient and determined, in 1983 Ardiles overcame the adversity and returned to White Hart Lane, and was well received.

Following a prolific professional football career, Ossie Ardiles continued to remain present in the industry and began his second career as a club manager. Managing to the likes of: Swindon Town, Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion, and his beloved Tottenham Hotspurs, Ardiles made an impact on some of England’s top clubs, on occasion, leading them to their highest ever league positions. Inevitably, Ardiles’ knowledge and quick wit was invited to commentate for the masses, and in 2010 he was invited to join the RTE Sport punditry panel, ahead of the 2010 World Cup and returned in 2014 for the same competition.

As an individual, Ossie Ardiles was named as the only Argentinian in the Football League 100 Legends list, in recognition of his contribution to the Premier League. The Golden Foot is given to a player who has demonstrated exceptional talent in football but also is awarded for their personality, an award which Ardiles received in 2013. Although he has managed fifteen teams in his career, Ossie Ardiles received the J League Manager of the Year title in 1998 whilst heading up Shimizu S-Pulse.

An ideal addition to your event, Ossie Ardiles will charm the room with amusing anecdotes from his varied career. Many of the topics he covers such as overcoming adversity and becoming resilient have an experienced message that will transfer from the stage to the boardroom and will inspire people to achieve their ambitions.