Moscow: Former England manager Steve McClaren has shared an intriguing incident from his tenure with the national team, involving a flight complication during their journey to Russia around 2006. The situation was unexpectedly resolved by a phone call from former England defender John Terry to a key figure in Russian football.
According to Ghana Web, McClaren recounted the events during an episode of the High Performance Podcast. He described a scenario where England's plane, destined for Russia, was unable to land and continued to circle the airport without any clear reason or communication from the flight crew. Frustration and confusion spread among the team as time dragged on without a resolution.
In a surprising turn of events, John Terry took the initiative to contact Roman Abramovich, who was then the owner of Chelsea and wielded considerable influence in Russian circles. As McClaren narrated, Terry informed Abramovich about the plane's predicament. Remarkably, just five minutes after the call, the plane was cleared to land, leaving the passengers amazed at the power of Abramovich's influence.
The peculiar incident was never formally explained, but it has become a memorable anecdote from McClaren's time leading the England team, highlighting the unexpected ways in which influence can manifest in high-stakes situations.