Released by Norwich City over the summer, Sébastien Bassong is currently without a club.
However, over the course of the 2008-09 season, the now 31-year-old was something of a revelation at Newcastle, and it’s all thanks to Michael Owen and Nicky Butt.
Speaking to Le Vestiaire on SFR Sport in France, the centre-back revealed how, when he first arrived at St James’ Park, he didn’t expect to play as he was fifth in the pecking order, yet he ended up getting his chance earlier than expected during a game against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Coming on, much to his surprise, just before half-time, Bassong did the job he was asked to do at left-back, and then went back to sitting on the bench for a few games.
He explained: “The reason I managed to make my spot in the team is because Nicky Butt and Michael Owen went to see the manager and told him: ‘Listen, the young kid, you have to play him. You wanted to play the English guys each time, because that’s how it is, but the best one here is him’.
“Kevin Keegan then came to me, took me into his office and asked me if I knew what Michael and Nicky had told him, I said no. He then went: “They told me you were the best. Are you the best?”. I said, frankly, yes. At that point I played, and I never left the team again.”
After that season, the Cameroon international was quickly snapped up by Tottenham for just under £9m, where he stayed until 2012, moving to Norwich City following a year long loan to Wolves.
