Spice Boys (footballers)
The Spice Boys was a media pejorative used to describe a group of high-profile Liverpool F.C. footballers in the mid-late 1990s, typically Jamie Redknapp, David James, Steve McManaman,[1] Robbie Fowler and Jason McAteer,[2] but occasionally teammates such as Stan Collymore and Paul Ince. The name was a play on the Spice Girls.
Term
The term 'Spice Boys' was coined by the Daily Mirror following (unfounded) tabloid rumours that Fowler was dating Spice Girl Baby Spice (Emma Bunton).[3]
In the late 1990s, the influx of television and marketing revenue from the newly revamped and globally marketed
Incidents
Several incidents around the behaviour of the so-called Spice Boys generated major media attention, notably the squad’s decision to wear matching cream
McManaman and Fowler were also associated with the controversial "dentist's chair" story prior to
The players were also linked to music industry figures, with
Decline of use
Following the departure of Liverpool manager Roy Evans in 1998, with his co-manager Gérard Houllier taking full charge, the majority of the Spice Boy players were slowly transferred out of the squad or put under greater pressure to perform.[17] The term gradually declined in media use, although was briefly revived when, in 2004, James, Fowler and McManaman were reunited at Manchester City, under Kevin Keegan.[18]
See also
References
- ^ "LIFE'S TOUGH BEING THE KOP'S SPICE BOY! SAYS STEVE MCMANAMAN. The Mirror (London, England)". 15 August 1997.[dead link]
- ^ "James suited to dressing down for 'Spice Boys' reunion party". The Independent. 16 May 2008.
- ^ "Football: McAteer: I was never a Spice Boy but Robbie Fowler could have been. He would be Ugly Spice!; Now and then. - Free Online Library". Daily Mirror. Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ Burt, Jason (1 October 2005). "Jason McAteer Management the next big stage for the Spice Boy who had to stop being a clown". The Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ Moore, Glenn (17 May 2008). "Spice Boy days distant memory for James". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "How football became the new rock'n'roll - Rock'n'Goal Week". FourFourTwo. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ Malam, Colin (24 November 2002). "Spice Boys are dancing to a new tune". Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ Moore, Glenn (17 May 2008). "James suited to dressing down for 'Spice Boys' reunion party - FA & League Cups - Football". The Independent. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ James Nursery (14 May 2008). "Robbie Fowler tells David James: I blame you for the cream suits - Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ What to do when you stick it away... "The dentist's chair - The best (and worst) goal celebrations of all time - Pictures - Sport". Virgin Media. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ "Why office Christmas parties are out of favour". The Independent. 1 November 2005. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ "The 10 worst examples of footballers behaving badly". Observer.guardian.co.uk. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ Smyth, Rob (22 October 2015). "Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool: the Class of 92, Spice Boys and Cantona's return". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Turton, Jonathan (27 March 2016). "Were Liverpool FC's Spice Boys really as bad as their white suits suggest?". Liverpool Echo.
- ^ Hughes, Si (12 April 2015). "John Scales admits Spice Boy-era Liverpool were caught in a 'time warp'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Caamano, Andrea (19 November 2021). "Louise Redknapp shares video featuring ex-husband Jamie Redknapp as she celebrates milestone". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Louise (16 January 2004). "James rejoins old Spice Boys for a new City revival". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (14 January 2004). "Keegan splashes on old spice". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 November 2023.