Good Interview With Pesch

[White Noise]

Sexism? I had 20,000 fans calling me a sex toy! Burton boss Peschisolido on life as 'Mr Karren Brady'

By Alan Fraser

EXCLUSIVE

Last updated at 10:51 PM on 27th January 2011

Karren Brady's blood was boiling about Linogate when the rarely simmering Mr Karren Brady sat down to discuss Burton Albion's first FA Cup fourth-round tie this weekend.

But first a word about sexism in football. 'Sexism?' demanded Paul Peschisolido, to give him his proper name. 'Are you kiddin' me? I was married to the managing director of the football club I was at!'

'I used to get absolutely hammered every time I walked into the changing room,' he told Sportsmail. 'Pictures on the wall, all manner of stuff that can't be repeated. The football changing room is a very sexist place. You bet. Every club I went to was the same.'


On the receiving end: Karren Brady's husband Paul Peschisolido, the Burton boss, was taunted as a player

And there were nine of them in England alone. Birmingham City (twice), Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United (twice), Norwich City, Derby County and Luton Town - plus Toronto Blizzard and Kansas City Comets, not to mention the great Juventus, where the Canadian spent one year as a homesick academy recruit.

Then there was the chanting from the opposition terraces. 'I used to get absolutely abused,' said the Canadian. 'Twenty thousand Wolves fans singing Peschodildo. That was always a nice one.

'It was all water off a duck's back. I took it as a  compliment. If I was no threat, they would not be trying to put me off my game.

'There were plenty others. "You're s*** and your wife's a whore".'

Peschisolido was unfazed by the abuse from the terraces, but what about his other half, 'first lady of football'?


All star Mr & Mrs: Pescisolido with his wife and West Ham vice-chairman, Karren Brady

'Karren can look after herself,' the 39-year-old said. 'Karren's Karren. She is an incredible business lady - probably one of the best you will ever come across, as far as running a business is concerned. She is phenomenal.

'Karren is not a feminist. She is very traditional, very much old school. I love my wife. I am proud of everything she does and I hope she goes on to become Prime Minister because the country could do with someone like her.'

Brady would not need to be elected as an MP - never mind PM - to establish a higher profile than a husband who is making the transition from journeyman footballer to aspiring football manager. Her public recognition as West Ham vice-chairman and media darling is already in a different league.

Although Peschisolido would love to take League Two Burton - and his own managerial career - into higher echelons, it would never be a case of trying to keep up with the missus.

'I am not spurred on by wanting to be bigger than my wife,' he said. 'I want to do it because I want to do it. I love football and I love the job I am doing. There has never been a competition between the two of us. I do it for my own sake and if someone wants to call me Mr Karren Brady, fine. It fazes me not one bit.'

The urbane Peschisolido has in two years gone from unlikely managerial recruit to one of those young obsessives who spends every waking hour on the job. When not watching as many as three matches a day, always on the search for talent, he can be found immersed in a book on psychology or nutrition.

Burton is a tight ship crewed by the manager, his assistant Gary Rowett, a physio, a kit man and a scout. And that's about it.

QPR boss Neil Warnock, one of 20 managers for whom Peschisolido played, described Burton as a perfect place for a managerial apprenticeship. That was principally because in chairman Ben Robinson the club was headed by someone with great business acumen, patience and understanding - someone not given to interfering in football matters.

Nigel Clough spent 10 years in charge of them before taking over at Derby, and he was, as Peschisolido acknowledges: 'A daunting act to follow.


Here comes the science: Burton's manager is from the modern school of bosses fond of laptop analysis

'I did hear bits and pieces about how Nigel would never do it this way, etc. But it didn't bother me.

'I never thought about the Clough factor. I just saw the job as a great opportunity to manage a team run well and on the way up. You have to believe in your own ability and in what you are doing.'

As one of the young breed of so-called 'laptop managers', who believe football to be a science, Peschisolido was distraught to have his computer stolen at the end of last year. It disappeared along with his smart Mercedes car, which he had left with its engine running in the driveway of the family home while he had popped back inside to check on their dog.

'They could keep the car,' he said. 'I wanted the laptop back. I never got either. The laptop contained everything. I had not backed up anything. All the work that went into it. I had to start again from scratch. I was devastated.'


Up for the cup: Peschisolido's Burton side travel to Burnley on Saturday

The replacement contains a detailed dossier on Championship side Burnley, who entertain Burton at Turf Moor on Saturday. Peschisolido will be without striker Shaun Harrad, who transferred to Northampton after scoring the two goals that defeated Middlesbrough in the previous round.

'We have not played much football in the past month,' pointed out the Burton boss, who knows that is a factor in his side's lowly 20th place in League Two.

'I hope my lads go and enjoy themselves. It's a chance for them to show what they can do. They are really good footballers, capable of playing at a much higher level. I just hope they show up.'

Peschisolido usually did, albeit latterly as a 'super sub'. And it was as a substitute that he might have helped Sheffield United to the FA Cup final in 2003, but for an astonishing one-handed save by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman in the semi-final at Old Trafford.

The comparison with Gordon Banks's wonder save for England in 1970 has often been made, although no one ever bracketed Peschisolido with Pele.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1351210/Paul-Peschisolido-Mr-Karren-Brady-Sexism-I-20-000-fans-calling-sex-toy.html#ixzz1CHOuSHiS

[Fulham_Adam]

When Peschisolido was playing for us I would have been about 10-13 years old I believe so to me he is one of my child-hood heroes.

A good little player and I will always have respect for him- remember his muted celebration when he scored for Derby infront of the Hammersmith end? Top man.