It’s strange knowing what we know now, but on this day in 1999, German international Thomas Helmer completed his move to Sunderland. The 34-year-old central defender had only weeks prior been in the Bayern Munich squad that were beaten by Manchester United in the Champions League final.
He’d also played in two World Cups for his country, and Peter Reid stated he’d bring “invaluable experience” to his squad.
Helmer moved from Bayern Munich on a Bosman free transfer and immediately joined his new teammates
for the tour in Denmark. Before Bayern, Helmer had spells with Arminia Bielefeld and Borussia Dortmund, so the move to Wearside was his first outside of Germany as he talked about his move:
I am looking forward to joining my team-mates in Denmark and helping Sunderland do well in the Premiership next season. I could have joined Liverpool six months ago but felt that the time was not right for me or my family.
As soon as I heard of Sunderland’s interest I came straight over and was very impressed with the Stadium of Light and what the manager had to say
Reid was delighted to capture a player who had 68 international caps and played 385 times in the Bundesliga. He also played in the USA ’94 and France ’98 World Cups, and was in the Germany squad that won Euro 96 in England. So it’s fair to say Reid was pretty pleased:
Thomas will bring invaluable experience to the squad and is just what I’ve been looking for to strengthen our defence. He will give some of the Premiership strikers a run for their money.
Like I said, strange knowing what we know now.
Schwarz meets Reid for talks
Also on this day in 1999, Swedish international midfielder Stefan Schwarz was meeting Sunderland boss Peter Reid in Denmark today to discuss what was reported as a £3m move to the Stadium of Light.
The 30-year-old was expected to meet with Reid at Sunderland’s Denmark tour base in Vejle, just a short hop from the player’s home in Malmö, Sweden. Schwarz was plying his trade at Spanish club Valencia but has already spent time in the English top flight during a one-season stay at Arsenal, so Reid was open to being keen on the midfielder:
We are very interested in Stefan Schwarz and are hoping to have talks.
All of this news was reassuring for fans ahead of life in the Premiership following the shock transfer of record signing Lee Clark and the transfer listing of Allan Johnston and Michael Bridges.
Leeds Build Bridges…
On the Michael Bridges saga, Leeds United were staying tight-lipped on this day in 1999 about any further progress to sign Bridges, who had rejected a £5m move to Spurs a week earlier.
Sunderland were planning to have fresh talks with the 20-year-old, but Leeds had already tabled a bid in the region of £4m, according to the reports of the day, which followed the capture of Michael Duberry from Chelsea for £4.5m 24 hours earlier. Elland Road chairman John Ridsdale said:
We are making no comment about that at this stage. Clearly, after what happened with Spurs last week, it is inappropriate to make any comment.
Ipswich Chase Pele’s Offspring…
It was busy on this day in 1999 in Reidy’s office because it was also reported that Ipswich Town boss George Burley admitted he was keen to take Sunderland winger Martin Smith to Portman Road.
Burley said contact had been made with Smith and he could be invited on Ipswich’s pre-season tour of Sweden next week. The Ipswich manager needed to move quickly after Bobby Petta moved to Celtic, and 24-year-old Smith would fit the bill, especially being out of contract and available on a Bosman free transfer. Burley said:
We have spoken to him and, while we are still looking around, I am hoping to have something positive later this week. We would like him to come to Portman Road so we can have a good look at him and there is a possibility he could come on the tour. He’s a lad who started young and showed a lot of promise and has a lot of skill.
Manchester City, West Brom and Notts County were also reported to be tracking Smith after he decided to leave Sunderland. He was offered a new two-year contract, but decided he had to look elsewhere in an effort to get regular first-team football.
Smith, who burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old and inspired many top-quality t-shirt designs, started only four league games the previous season, scoring three goals.
In other news…
Next Boyhood Club?
Wolves boss Colin Lee warned Aston Villa they would be wasting their time if they tried to sign striker Robbie Keane “on the cheap”.
Villa remained favourites to sign the Republic of Ireland international, but Lee has insisted that they would need to match Middlesbrough’s £6m bid for the player.
Player Power At United?!
Looking back, it surprises me to read that Manchester United had to stand firm and confirm that they would not change their plans to pull out of the FA Cup, despite David Beckham and several other stars insisting they wanted to play in the competition. United chief executive Martin Edwards said there was no going back on the decision:
We explained why we were pulling out of it and there has been no change in that.
It all began when United accepted the offer from the Football Association to play in FIFA’s World Club Championship in Brazil in January. But England midfielder Beckham said on this day:
I hope we play in it – the more games the better. It would be great to do the title. We’ll have to wait and see.
News Of The World…
Craig Brown was hanging on to his job as Scotland coach, back on this day in 1999, through his lawyers, according to reports, who branded News of the World accusations of religious bigotry “completely untrue” and demanded a retraction.
Brown had not denied signing the famous Rangers anthem “Billy’s Boys” into the answering machine of lover Lynda Slaven. But he insisted he is not anti-Catholic and is clearly prepared to fight his corner through the law courts.
Rod McKenzie, of Glasgow law firm Harper Macleod, released a statement on behalf of Brown:
Unless the News of the World offers a complete retraction and payment of substantial damages in the course of the next day or so, a summons will be issued in the Court of Session.
A summons will seek substantial damages in relation to the completely untrue allegation of religious bigotry.
Rebel, Rebel…
Pick a year between ~1998-2005, and there could well have been a transfer saga involving Nicolas Anelka, and this day in 1999 was one of those. This time, Arsenal told Lazio to raise the stakes or stop unsettling their rebel striker.
They would need to increase their latest offer of £20m for the then 20-year-old French international, or he would remain at Highbury – even if it was against his will.
The Lazio bid would have quadrupled the club record fees Arsenal received for strikers John Hartson and Paul Merson when they were sold within four months of each other two years prior.
But the Gunners were desperate to keep Anelka despite the long-running saga of his apparent dissatisfaction with life in London – and firm indications by his agents, brothers Claude and Didier, that he would be prepared to go on strike if forced to adhere to his five-year contract at Highbury. Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti said:
I will be making a new offer to Arsenal for Anelka tonight. We will make a small improvement but it will be our final offer and if that is not accepted by tomorrow night we will leave the negotiating table.
