Joe Royal was the Manchester City manager when in 1998 the club paid £300,000 to bring Australia born midfielder Danny Tiatto to Maine Road. Over a six-year period, the Socceroo made over well over 130 City appearances before Leicester City came along and snapped him up on a free in 2004. But, whatever happened to him?
Throughout his footballing career, Danny had the habit of diving some of his managers to disappear, especially Joe. Prone to indiscipline and never far from a dressing room row Tiatto and some of his colleagues were, often or not being dressed down for alleged excessive drinking.
Three years into his City career Joe, Alex Stepney, the goalkeeping coach, John Hurst, the chief scout, and Roy Bailey, the assistant physiotherapist, were, in one foul swoop sacked by David Bernstein, the City chairman. The reason given was that they, the staff and some of the players were part of an unacceptable drinking culture. One unnamed player described his time at the club as “the best pub side” he had ever played in.
International caps
Tiatto won a total of 25 senior national caps before he retired from the international scene in 2005.
Danny left his England football playing days behind him when in 2007 he left Leicester City and headed home to play for a further five Australian clubs. In 2010 he called time on his playing days.
Who is the other player captured within the image?
Danny Tiatto Highlights
An Aussie TV camera crew visited Danny at his home while he was still an MCFC player.
What is he doing now?
It is thought the 45-year-old is living and working in Australia.
In 2005 Blue Moon Rising TV met Danny in his own backyard.
Please feel free to add your own Danny Tiatto memories in the comments section directly below this article.