'I chose Blackburn Rovers over Manchester United in its heyday - but I have no regrets'
Many footballers would have dreamed of playing under Alex Ferguson in Manchester United's heyday.
But not Stephane Henchoz. He had the chance to head to Old Trafford before the 1997/98 campaign after a stint in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV.
However, in what many would have considered, the Swiss international decided that rubbing shoulders with the likes of Peter Schmeichel, David Beckham, and Roy Keane was not for him.
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Instead he opted for Blackburn Rovers. In the same campaign that Ferguson and co celebrated their Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League success, Henchoz and his team-mates suffered relegation to the Championship, the Express reports.
However, the centre back states he has no regrets and argues competing with the likes of Ronny Johnsen and Jaap Stam would have left him short of game time and unable to develop his career.
"When I had the chance to join Manchester United I thought it was too soon for me – and I was right,” he told Boyle Sports. “I was making the step from the Bundesliga to the Premier League and even though the Bundesliga is a good league, the step would’ve been too big.
“I wouldn’t have played that much at United and when you are young you need to gain experience. You need to develop and I did that at Blackburn with a manager who knew me and he kept faith in me even if I wasn’t playing so well.”
Indeed, Henchoz did then get a big move as opposed to dropping down a division, adding: “From Blackburn I then joined Liverpool and it was the best move I could’ve made, so I have zero regrets about turning down Manchester United.”
The now 50-year-old did then go on to complete a treble of his own with the Reds, part of their 2001 UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup winning campaign, as well as a second League Cup a year later. He eventually left for Celtic after making 205 club appearances, with his partnership alongside Sami Hyypia still revered by fans.
