Arsene Wenger is largely credited with changing the face of English football, but Dr Jozef Venglos had attempted to shake things up six years earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s hard to imagine the Premier League without a major international influence when taking into account its current state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just over half (11) of the clubs in the Premier League have an overseas manager, including each of the current top five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Few would raise an eyebrow at their club being linked with a boss born outside of the UK, however, prior to 1990, it simply hadn’t been a consideration for a top-flight outfit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the departure of Graham Taylor, who was set to take charge of England, after the conclusion of the 1989-90 campaign, Aston Villa were searching for a new man to step into the dugout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Villa had just finished second in the First Division, securing a place in the UEFA Cup, and chairman Doug Ellis had no shortage of candidates interesting in the vacancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gerry Francis, Arthur Cox and David Pleat were reported to be the front-runners for the post, however, Ellis had other ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Venglos was far from a household name but Ellis had clearly seen something in the Bratislava-born boss and he made what was regarded as a left-field appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Venglos, who was 54 at the time, had a doctorate in physical education, a passion for philosophy and, according to Ellis, was “simply the best”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After spending 12 years playing for Slovan Bratislava, Venglos stepped into management in 1966.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time he arrived at Villa, he was extremely well-travelled, having spent time in charge of Australia, Sporting Lisbon, Czechoslovakia and Malaysia, to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was assistant boss when Czechoslovakia won the European Championship in 1976, while he led his nation to third place at the Euros in 1980 and the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n