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While the recent ‘Spygate’ scandal that played out between Southampton and Middlesbrough sent shockwaves through the English game, spying on opponents is nothing new in football.
While most managers accept it as an inevitable cost of doing business, there are some that go that extra mile in order to avoid opponents gaining any advantages ahead of key fixtures.
Football fans may be unsurprised to guess former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was one such gaffer – going to extreme lengths to prevent rivals from catching a glimpse of his tactics.
‘We would know, when we went overseas, that we weren't going to set up like that’ – Crouch on Benitez’s fake training ground formations
Ex-Reds striker Peter Crouch recalls the hilarious tactics the Spaniard would employ to ensure his team wasn’t spied upon.
“I know Rafa Benitez was very wary of people watching our training sessions before big games,” Crouch tells FourFourTwo on behalf of Deliveroo, who have created a 6ft 7in pizza, available to order, in his honour ahead of the World Cup.
“Sometimes we would train in a different shape just to try and throw any potential spies off the scent or give them a false idea of how we would set up.”
Crouch recalls Benitez’s schemes were often put into action ahead of big European games overseas.
“Certainly, when we trained away in the Champions League in the other team’s stadiums, we would train in a different shape a lot of the time,” chuckles the former England striker. “We'd know in our heads how we were really going to train and we'd work all week back in Liverpool on the real shape. So we would know, when we went overseas and that we weren't going to set up like that.”
Crouch was disappointed to see his former club, Southampton, embroiled in the Spygate scandal, but believes it’s become part and parcel of the modern game.
“I think the whole spying thing is something that happens a lot in other countries,” he says. “I don't think I have seen much of it in the English league before now. But with the amount of cultures now and different characters from different leagues coming here to play and manage, I think these things kind of creep into our game as well.
Crouch shared his enthusiasm for having a 6ft 7in pizza, dubbed ‘Pizza Crouch’ by Deliveroo, made in his honour.
“I really am honoured,” he laughs. “I turned up to the photos and it genuinely was as long as me. How my name Peter has never been combined with ‘pizza’ before, I will never know. It’s been a long time coming and I’m proud of it. I think it’s gonna take at least 12 people to get through it.”
‘Pizza Crouch’ is three-quarters margherita, the robot dancer’s go-to pizza order, and one-quarter Hawaiian, a cheeky nod to wife Abbey Clancey’s favourite slice.
“I’ve had a lot of memorable moments in my career, but becoming a 6ft 7in pizza is definitely up there,” he shares. “It’s ideal because watching football with your mates is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and the worst part is missing a goal because you’re getting another pizza out of the oven.
Deliveroo’s Pizza Crouch solves that problem in the best way - it’s an honour to be entering people’s living rooms in pizza form, keeping watch parties fuelled during the football this summer.”
Deliveroo partners with Peter Crouch & Abbey Clancy to launch a 6 ft 7 in "Pizza Crouch", feeding up to 30 people. Delivery slots are limited, so apply for a chance to score yours via the dedicated Eventbrite pages only, Pizza Crouch by Deliveroo London and Pizza Crouch by Deliveroo Edinburgh, for delivery on 17th June (London) and 19th June (Edinburgh)..
