It’s not that often in this day and age that you see a high profile English player try his luck abroad, David Beckham notwithstanding. But Jermaine Pennant is just doing that, with newly promoted Real Zaragoza his destination.
Pennant made his debut on the opening day and started, playing 71 minutes as the Aragonese club won 1-0 over fellow promoted club Tenerife.
2007-08 was a season of horrors for Real Zaragoza, who succumbed to a second relegation of the decade. Like the previous one, relegation had been attained despite the quality of the squad, who had qualified for Europe the previous season.
This “achievement” is far from uncommon in football, since Real Betis followed in their footsteps last season – they too had similar relegations in the past. And we won’t list the sides in England and Italy who found themselves down there despite the obvious quality they possessed. It didn’t help that four coaches were in the Zaragoza hot-seat that season, either.
Of course, relegation meant an exodus of players, but still a good enough team was built to bounce back at the first attempt. Evidently this has been a poorly-run club with substantial support and tradition, although of the promoted sides they’re obviously the best-equipped to stay up.
There’s still Ayala and Ewerthon, and there’s Uche. And there’s Pennant, who has never quite fulfilled whatever potential he’s had. Will he do so in a new environment?
How Zaragoza utilises him and the understandings he may develop with his teammates will be crucial to success. You’d have to wish him well there and hope the club doesn’t slip into yet another catastrophe.
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