Mark Hateley: The English fighting spirit
Son of Tony Hateley, a professional footballer who played for Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool, Mark would start playing football as a youth in Boston in the United States before going to England to complete his training. A renowned number 9 who was coming on to the scene, soon to be recognised for his spells at AC Milan, Glasgow Rangers and AS Monaco.
His will to fight and THAT goal in the derby earned him a special place in the hearts of all Rossoneri: #HBD Mark Hateley! ❤🖤
Grazie alla sua generosità e all'indimenticabile rete nel Derby ha conquistato per sempre un posto nei cuori dei rossoneri: buon compleanno Attila! ❤🖤 pic.twitter.com/ZMAi0phKOs— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 7, 2018
An atypical career
Trained at Nottingham Forest, it was finally at Coventry City that the player began his professional career, at only 17 years old. After five seasons in the West Midlands, he joined Portsmouth, where he would shine. In one season, he scored 25 goals in 44 matches.
It was a crazy year as soon AC Milan came knocking on his door. However, at that time, few English players went abroad! It was a challenge that did not scare the striker who discovered Calcio in the summer of 1984. For three seasons, Mark Hateley would be an important element of the Lombardy club and took advantage of his good performances to participate in the 1986 World Cup.
An iconic duo with Glenn Hoddle!
The player then arrived at the foot of the Rock during the 1987 off-season, at the same time as his compatriot, Glenn Hoddle, as well as AS Monaco’s new trainer, Arsène Wenger. Right away, the connection between the two men was perfect, Mark Hateley looked back at his connection with the managaer during an interview in 2021 : “I was still a young man learning the game and wanted to win titles. He also absolutely wanted to win trophies and prove his worth.”
Led by the coach and his new recruits, AS Monaco finished at the top of the league by six points over Bordeaux. The young centre-forward finished his first season in Division 1 with 14 goals in 31 games and won the first title of his career. A season that still means a lot to him: “Winning your first league title is always very special, especially considering how competitive the league was at the time. The best team will always win the league title.”
A slowed rise
After the resounding success of the first campaign, Mark’s progression in the red and white jersey was interrupted by injury. The player clashed with the Galatasaray goalkeeper during the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal in 1989, which revealed a double dislocation of his ankle.
Off the field for seven months, the player made his return the following season, during a Cup Winners’ Cup match against Berlin. With his professionalism, the Englishman led the line for four months before having to leave again in order to undergo operations to recover.
crazy.
Renaissance in Glasgow
In 1990, Mark Hateley finally joined Glasgow Rangers, where he would find success. Dedicated, he came back even stronger after his injury, and achieved enormous success within the Scottish club, winning a whopping 11 major trophies and scoring 111 goals in 214 games.
On this day when he celebrates his 63rd birthday, the entire Club wishes him a happy birthday! 🎂
