In praise of Ian Holloway as he reaches 1,000 games in management.
Ian Holloway was painting an acrylic of Paolo di Canio the last time I saw him. He’s always fascinating company, showing me around his happy house near Bath with re-building work that he himself was doing and slowed only as they investigated what appeared Roman ruins under the kitchen. Life’s eventful around Holloway. He’s a character, great for a quote, but should also be respected for his longevity as a manager as he reaches 1,000 games this weekend.
Holloway’s much more than one description of him as a “media personality”. He is a terrific pundit, a must listen on the radio, but it should never be forgotten that he guided both Blackpool and Crystal Palace up into the Premier League.
The quotes are good of course. Holloway celebrated one win by saying, “Every dog has its day – and today is ‘woof’ day.” And another win with, “I couldn’t be more chuffed if I were a badger at the start of the mating season.” He has a self-deprecating streak that people instinctively warm to. “I love Blackpool. We’re both very similar. We both look better in the dark.” Holloway once blamed the European Union for the new handball rule.
If anything, the focus on his wit distracts from his managerial strengths, namely his remarkable hunger. He’s managed in all four divisions across his 28 years in and out of dugouts across the country, taking in his beloved Bristol Rovers, QPR, Plymouth, Leicester, Blackpool, Palace, Millwall, QPR again, Grimsby and now Swindon. Fittingly, Grimsby are the visitors to the County Ground in League Two on Saturday.