Eoin Jess: To be joining Sir Fergie, Miller and McLeish in the Dons’ Hall of Fame is quite something

EOIN JESS lives in Barcelona, one of the finest footballing cities in the world.

He wakes up most mornings to a near-perfect climate and never has to search too far to find someone to share a café con leche with and exchange views on “the beautiful game”.

In that part of the world, the conversation will often focus on the likes of Lionel Messi and Johan Cruyff, but Jess will always find a way of introducing his main love – Aberdeen FC.

Indeed, the current excitement in his voice is because he is due back in the Granite City next month to be inducted into Aberdeen’s Hall of Fame, an honour he is incredibly proud of.

He will use his period back home to speak to Derek McInnes and also watch the Dons in action on October 31, at home to Hamilton Accies.

Jess is delighted to see Aberdeen in the mix in the SPFL league title race again, and also in the semi-finals of the Betfred Cup when they play Rangers at Hampden next weekend.

The 47-year-old former Coventry and Scotland star told The Sunday Post: “Aberdeen is my team and I have many fine memories from my time there as a player.

“So, to be getting into the Hall of Fame alongside Sir Alex Ferguson, Willie Miller and Alex McLeish is really quite something.

“Honestly, it’s hard to put into words. It’s going to be a really proud evening for my and for my family.

“I always enjoy coming back and it will be good to see so my friends. I’m sure I’ll have a conversation with Derek McInnes. He is continuing his good work and has really made the club a force to be reckoned with in the past four or five years.

“They have been consistent in the league, won a cup and reached semis and finals.

“He has given the club back its respect on the park and that can’t be underestimated.

“They are right in the thick of it all in this campaign and I’d love to see them get to the League Cup Final.

“It’s also good to see so many clubs doing so well in the league at the moment. It’s healthy for Scottish football to have Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and Kilmarnock all right up there. And it’s been some start to the season for Livingston.

“When I played for Aberdeen in the late-’80s and early-’90s we were always pushing and it made for an exciting league. It’s happening again just now and that can only be a good thing.”

Jess burst on to the scene at Pittodrie as an 18-year-old and his presence was truly felt when he ran show for the team in their 2-1 League Cup Final success against Rangers in 1988-89 season.

He went on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award on two occasions and to play for Scotland.

When he hung up his boots, he went into coaching with the youth team at Nottingham Forest and it was there he helped to mould the careers of some top youngsters. He spent five years at the City Ground.

He takes tremendous satisfaction from that and said: “At this stage of my life, I get a real buzz from seeing how some of the youths I had at Nottingham Forest are progressing.

“I had Jamaal Lascelles and Patrick Bamford. Jamaal is doing very well at Newcastle and is rated one of the best central defenders in the country.

“Patrick is a fine striker and has played for some very big clubs.

“I also had Kieron Freeman. He is now at Sheffield United and was called up by Ryan Giggs last week to the Wales squad for their game against the Republic of Ireland.

“All of the kids had talent and I’m not looking for credit or pats on the back. A youth team coach’s job is to pass on that wee bit of knowledge you have about what is required to be a first-team professional, develop them and steer them in the right direction – on and off the park.”

At the moment, he has no desire to get back into football. But if he fancies being involved in the future, would Aberdeen be a possible destination?

He smiled: “Well, you never say never.

“However, I have to stress that I am not missing football at this stage of my life. That might change six months from now, or six years from now. Or maybe never.

“If I did try to get back into the game then it would be as a youth coach. But, right now, being employed in the game again is not in my immediate plans.

”But, I have to say, it sounds as though there are exciting times ahead for Aberdeen, not only at first-team level, but also at youth team level.

“For the club to be building its own training facility is a fantastic piece of news. It’s long overdue. I remember when I was a kid at the club, Alex Smith was pushing for one even back then. So, it might be nearly 30 years on, but it will have been worth the wait.

“It will help attract the very best youths to the club and also players ready for the first team.

“It’s a massive boost all round and the board of directors deserve huge credit for having the vision and patience to see this through.”

Now that he has given his thoughts on Aberdeen and Scottish football, the conversation resumes as to why he has ended up in Barcelona.

He said: “I was working with the youths at Peterborough and lost my job there. It was then I decided to take time out of the game.

“I wanted to take a year out when I stopped playing but got into the role at Nottingham Forest.

“So, I’m now enjoying my sabbatical – although it has lasted four or five years, instead of 12 months!

“I opted to live in Barcelona because I had a business plan for here. I wanted to start a holiday-rental business. I’ve also invested in property.

“But since Brexit came about it has brought my plans to a halt.

“There is so much uncertainty around just now that we will all just have to wait and see. Brexit will also have an effect on expats all over Europe, including here in Barcelona.

“It’s tough and frustrating, but there is nothing I can do. I will assess it all again after March.

“Maybe I will stay here or maybe I will have to return to the UK. I hope I am able to make that decision off my own back and not have it dictated to me.

“This is a wonderful city to live in and to be here when there is so much focus is extra special.

“Football really is a religion in Barcelona. They live and breathe the game, 24 hours a day.

“I love Barcelona’s style of play. They are on a different planet. I don’t often go to see them playing but you always hear the result, what’s going on in the game, minute by minute, home or away.

“If they score a goal a cheer will go up in a bar or café, or someone will let off a firework. Honestly, the city erupts.

“It’s a very special experience and I have tried to immerse myself in their culture and way of life.

“I know I am very fortunate to be able to do this and I try to make the most of it every single day.

“That said, I am so much looking forward to returning to Aberdeen in a couple of weeks’ time.”