I managed Newcastle United legend - what he did after title win almost brought a tear to my eye
Former Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier has been labelled ‘the best player’ one former Premier League manager has ever worked with.
Former Burnley manager Sean Dyche has named Kieran Trippier as the ‘best player’ he’s worked with in football.
Trippier was part of Dyche’s Burnley side that was promoted to the Premier League in 2013/14 with the right-back setting a Championship record for assists in the process.
After Burnley were relegated back to the Championship the following season, Trippier joined Tottenham Hotspur and went on to establish himself as one of the best right-backs around.
Trippier left Spurs to join Atletico Madrid in 2019, going on to win La Liga before joining Newcastle in January 2022. The 54-time England international wrote his name in Geordie folklore during his four-and-a-half-year stay at St James’ Park - playing a key role in the side initially surviving relegation before going on to qualify for the Champions League twice while also winning the Carabao Cup.
Trippier left Newcastle as a free agent this summer, joining Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
When Dyche was asked on talkSPORT to name the best player he has worked with, there was only one answer.
“Kieran Trippier, when I had him as a youngster, he was like a bit of a butterball, but you could tell his talent,” he said. “Incredibly talented, way, way better, I mean people know he's talented, but he's a very, very good player.
“I always say he's got a right foot like lefties. You know how lefties always seem to have a wonderful left foot? He's got every club in the bag in his right foot; he can do anything. And a great lad, I still see him now, I still speak to him - fantastic.”
Dyche went on to recall his ‘fondest memory’ in football being what Trippier did immediately after Atletico Madrid lifted the La Liga title in 2021.
“My fondest memory was when he FaceTimed me on the pitch when he won La Liga,” Dyche added. “That's my fondest memory in football, apart from winning things, for an ex player to do that was incredible. I nearly had a tear in my eye!”
Trippier, 35, will now be looking for more success in the Championship with Wolves in what will be his first time back in the division since being promoted with Burnley and Dyche over 12 years ago.