One magical summer: Fulham sign Sylvain Legwinski
Fulham's summer heated up with more French flair arriving in SW6.
If there was a prize for Jean Tigana’s most underrated signing, it would go to Sylvain Legwinski.
Perhaps it was his unassuming style or his relaxed demeanour off the pitch. In 2001, perhaps it was because he arrived after our season opener, a 3-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
But this was arguably our most astute signing of the summer. Legwinski was a known quantity for Tigana, having played under him - and with Fulham teammate John Collins - at Monaco as a 22 year old, winning Ligue 1 and reaching the semi-finals of both the UEFA Cup and Champions League in consecutive seasons.
Before playing under the Fulham boss, Sylvain - known as Monica by the Fulham Faithful in a fantastic example of British humour - cut his teeth under Arsene Wenger. His pedigree was bettered only by Edwin Van Der Sar in terms of our summer recruits.
Things hadn’t gone quite as well for Monica at Bourdeaux, prompting his decision to move to Craven Cottage in this £3.3m deal.
A central midfielder, Leggy wasn’t a goalscorer, but when he bagged, they were crucial. Undoubtedly the most memorable strike was his injury time winner against Spurs at Loftus Road.
Having trailed 2-0, Sylvain added to the brace he bagged on the opening day against Bolton Wanderers with a helluva strike to cap a fantastic comeback in the London derby.
Known for his nonchalant French aura, from his shaggy beard and unkempt hair to his slightly weathered Volkswagen and his penchant for a cigarette or two, Leggy became a cult hero at the Cottage during his five-year stay.
“I’m very happy if the way people remember me is that I was different,” he told the official website in 2013. “It’s a big compliment. I think I had the same reputation in France. I never had the image of the archetypal footballer. What’s good about football and sport is that there is room for everybody.
“I’ve never been interested in trying to be something I’m not; I was just always myself. It’s true that in football, people look at me as someone who’s different, but as we say in France, “Vive la difference!’
As Legwinski’s arrival was confirmed in August 2001, reports were circulating about another potential recruit - one who’d become our final signing of the summer - and who would command our highest-ever transfer fee…