Nick Blackman, a former standout player for Reading, has praised Scotland manager Steve Clarke as the “best I played for.” Blackman, who joined Reading from Sheffield United in 2013 and spent three years with the club, highlighted his impactful time under Clarke’s management. During the 2015/16 season, Blackman, a Barbados international, notably scored 11 goals in 25 games, half of his total goals for Reading, leading to a £3m transfer to Derby County.
Although facing challenges at Derby County, the 33-year-old forward has since played in Spain and Israel, in addition to representing his national team. Clarke, a Chelsea legend during his playing career, guided Scotland to
Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, marking the first time the team qualified without a playoff match, following his tenure with Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership after leaving Berkshire in 2015.
Expressing his admiration on social media, Blackman stated, “Best manager I played for hands down.” Former Reading teammates Alex Fernandez and Michael Hector, both of whom faced Reading recently while playing for Charlton Athletic, concurred with Blackman’s sentiment. Fernandez, currently playing in Spain, described Clarke as a “great coach” with whom Blackman had a stellar season, while Hector simply praised Clarke, saying, “What a man.”
Clarke’s managerial stint concluded amid controversy, with rumors of Fulham attempting to recruit him to Craven Cottage while he had led the club to the third position in the Championship.
Leave a Reply