Brian Deane scored over 200 goals during his two-decade career, but only one continues to become more iconic as time passes.
The former England striker has a permanent slot in the top-flight record books as the scorer of the Premier League‘s first-ever goal.
It’s often said that football wasn’t invented in 1992 by players who didn’t experience the permanent revamp of the EFL pyramid.
However, what is undeniable is that the Premier League changed the game forever, as detailed on the talkSPORT Daily podcast.
Backed by a huge new broadcasting deal, it’s ironic that the first-ever Premier League goal came during a match not shown live.
At 3.05pm on August 15, 1992, Deane cemented his name in football folklore to give Sheffield United the lead against Manchester United.
The forward took the roof off Bramall Lane after heading past Peter Schmeichel from a flick on following Carl Bradshaw’s long throw.
Deane added a second-half penalty to secure a famous 2-1 win for the Blades, but was millimetres away from a priceless piece of history.
Between his two goals, the 57-year-old raced in behind to beat Schmeichel once again but was denied a hat-trick by the offside flag.
Not only would it have meant Deane would be the holder of both the Premier League’s first-ever goal and hat-trick, he would also have been entitled to take home the matchball.
Instead, the iconic Umbro ball was given to sponsors Bentleys, a well-known local car dealership, and is now on display in Sheffield.
“It’s a funny one, because I actually had a goal disallowed on the day as well,” Deane exclusively told talkSPORT.com, via BetSelect.
“So obviously, if that hadn’t been disallowed, I would have had a hat-trick and I’d have a ball of my own and would be counting the dollars right now.
“We didn’t know about memorabilia back then, and how valuable these things would be 30 years later.
“It would have been nice to have it as a memento, but it was never an option, and I totally understand the circumstances and why I didn’t end up with it.
“I was reunited with it at a function, and I’ve got a picture with it – it really takes me back.”
Over 30 years later, three of Deane’s former clubs find themselves struggling to cement their spot in the Premier League.
Leicester have been relegated a year after their promotion, with Sheffield United hoping to join Leeds in returning to the top-flight.
Asked what needs to change for those yo-yo clubs to avoid instantly dropping down to the Championship, Deane replied: “Recruitment.
“It’s one of the biggest areas. When you’re recruiting, it’s not just about the players – it’s about their character. It’s about what they’re going to bring into the club.
“How are they going to be inspiring for everybody else? What’s their story? Sometimes you can go too young.
“You have to have people in the building who can stand up when they need someone to stand up. I’m not sure I’ve seen a lot of that.
“Players need to have a story. You can’t just expect a 21-year-old to come into the club and boss it. It’s not going to happen.
“You need a balance of talent and experience, and you need to build an identity as a team, instead of individuals.”
Deane had direct experience of doing just that as a manager when he travelled around 1,300 miles from Yorkshire to Ostfold County.
The ex-Three Lions star became head coach of newly promoted Norwegian top-flight side Sarpsborg 08 FF in 2012.
In his first season, Deane guided the Eliteserien outfit to safety, and then had them stabilised in mid-table during the following campaign.
“There were some marvellous moments,” Deane added.
“The one thing I remember most is when I told them I was leaving and realised that I’d made an impression on a lot of these guys.
“As a manager, if you have that kind of input on somebody and they recognise what you’ve done, then you’ve done your job.
“My role was to develop these players as players and men, and that was very satisfying for me.
“During my time in Sarpsborg, I helped unite the town. I kept the team in the top division, and since then, they have remained there.
“I built a good foundation, and hopefully, some of the traits that I implemented are still in place today.”
