Neil Warnock made 40-cap England defender train once a week as a goalkeeper, reveals Premier League cult hero Halford
NEIL WARNOCK made Phil Jagielka train as a goalkeeper once a week at Sheffield United.
The former England defender was deployed as a substitute keeper several times by the ex-Blades boss.
He famously kept a clean sheet against Arsenal in 2006 after keeping goal against Millwall two years earlier.
Greg Halford has now revealed Warnock had Jagielka train with the keepers at Sheffield United before he joined the club.
The Premier League cult hero also admitted he was made back-up goalie after Jagielka departed.
Appearing on the Undr The Cosh podcast, he recalled: “I think Neil Warnock was the first manager to do it, where he wouldn’t put a sub keeper on the bench. He’d just have five outfield players.
“Before me it was Jagielka, he’d train one day a week with the keepers and be a sub keeper while he was playing. Then after Jags left, it was me.”
Jagielka came through the Blades academy before making 305 appearances for the club across two spells at Bramall Lane.
Prior to his move to Everton in 2007, he helped his boyhood club gain promotion to the Premier League.
It was during their 2006-07 top flight campaign that his goalkeeping cameo helped the Blades to a famous win over Arsenal.
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Jagielka was forced between the sticks to replace the injured Paddy Kenny for the final 34 minutes, denying Robin van Persie late on to seal a 1-0 win.
He had previously done the same after Kenny was sent off against Millwall in December 2004, with Warnock‘s side also winning that day.
After joining the Toffees, Jagielka went on to make his England debut and win 40 caps for the Three Lions, scoring three goals.
Two of those caps came at the 2014 World Cup after the centre-back had been unused at the Euros two years earlier.
Jagielka returned to the Blades in 2019 before spells at Derby and Stoke, retiring aged 40 back in July.