Hernan Crespo on Lionel Messi, returning to England and life as a manager

“You probably remember me with long hair,” Hernan Crespo jokes – but it is clear this is the same striker who was once feared across Europe.

Now a manager, Crespo, 50, bases his coaching on scoring goals, passion and intensity – in what feels like a tribute to his playing career. It is something he hopes can take him back to the top level of European football.

“I played in all the great events – three World Cups… I reached the Champions League final – an unforgettable one against Liverpool,” he says with a knowing laugh as he recalls AC Milan throwing away a 3-0 lead then losing on penalties in 2005.

“I won the Europa League with Parma as a player, the Premier League with Chelsea, Serie A, the Copa Libertadores, the Olympics. As a man who loves football, I want more. I want to repeat that experience as a coach.”

Crespo is not taking shortcuts. His coaching career began in the academy at Parma, where he is a club legend, while studying for his coaching qualifications at Italy’s renowned football centre in Coverciano.

A faltering start at Serie B side Modena prompted a return to his roots in Argentina, where he excelled at Defensa y Justicia – a relatively small club in Buenos Aires – by leading them to success in the Copa Sudamericana.

He then won titles at Sao Paulo in Brazil, Al-Duhail in Qatar and, perhaps most remarkably, guided UAE club Al Ain to Asian Champions League success in 2024.

“I needed to reset in Argentina to come back to Europe stronger,” he says. “I am the same Crespo as a footballer and as a coach.

“My football is about the ball – building, attacking, being aggressive… achieving results in offensive terms, but always with balance in recovering the ball, applying pressure and creating movements to win it back.

“I will never forget my essence as a person. I was always a forward, so I always thought about scoring goals and being aggressive. It is a spirit I had as a kid. I try to respect that even now.”