Ex-England international footballer Steve Hunt, who has been living on the Isle of Wight for the past 20 years, has written an intriguing book about his amazing career in the game.
Steve, who more recently was manager of Cowes Sports, played for Aston Villa, Coventry City and West Brom, and also had two spells with top US club New York Cosmos, where he played alongside three of the best players the game has ever seen.
His autobiography is an no-holds-barred account of his time on both sides of the Atlantic, with his Cosmos days highlighted by his time performing in the same team as the legendary Pele, his Brazil teammate Carlos Alberto and West Germany skipper Franz Beckenbauer - all three World Cup winners.
Steve (centre) with Pele and Franz Beckenbauer
His book, co-written with Ian McCauley, is entitled: ‘I’m With The Cosmos’.
Steve, who lives in Bembridge, explained:
“I'm with the Cosmos' was the phrase New York Cosmos players used to reserve a table at the city's best restaurants or skip the queues at the glamorous Studio 54 nightclub. Studio 54 was massive then so I got used to trotting out the phrase, it was better than queueing!”
Hunt, now 64, was just 20 when then Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders decided to sell him to Cosmos - behind the player’s back.
He said:
“One day, Saunders called me into his office, and told me there was someone to see me. It was a Cosmos representative, who said Villa had decided to sell me to them, and had even agreed a fee. I had no idea the deal had been done. Moving to New York was a bit different to going up the road, so it all came as a massive shock.”
Steve celebrates with legendary footballer, Pele
The former midfielder tells of the friendship he built with Pele and Beckenbauer in particular, but also the amazing spat with the Brazilian superstar, and the consequences he suffered as a result.
Hunt won two England caps under Bobby Robson, and during a second spell at Villa he finally had to retire in 1988 because of persistent knee problems.
Steve playing for England
While living on the Island, Steve has held football coaching clinics at schools, and for the past few years he has been caretaker at an Island primary school.
His autobiography ‘I’m With The Cosmos’ is published on March 8. It will be available at Waterstones, WH Smith, other Island outlets and through Amazon, and can be pre-ordered.
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