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Vinny Samways

Vincent Samways (born 27 October 1968) is an English former professional footballer and manager who played primarily as a central from 1986 to 2005. Samways began his career in the youth system of Tottenham Hotspur, making his senior debut in 1986 and going on to play over 250 matches for the club across nearly a decade, contributing to their 1991 victory as a squad member. He transferred to in 1994 for a brief stint that included 23 appearances and two goals, followed by loans to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City. In 1996, Samways moved to Spain with UD Las Palmas for £700,000, where he became a cult hero, captaining the side and playing a key role in their 1999–2000 Segunda División title win that promoted them to La Liga; he made 64 top-flight appearances for the club between 2000 and 2002, scoring once and providing 10 assists. Known for his combative style—earning him the derogatory nickname "El Giri" from rivals but adoration from Las Palmas fans, including a dedicated supporters' club—for example, accumulating 15 yellow cards and six red cards in the 2000–01 La Liga season, reflecting his tenacious play. After transferring to Sevilla in 2002 for 10 La Liga appearances without scoring, he returned to England with Walsall in 2003, adding 42 matches, two goals, and four assists before retiring at Algeciras CF in 2005. Post-retirement, Samways briefly managed amateur club San Pedro in for two years. Across his career in top , he recorded 212 appearances, eight goals, and 24 assists, with his left-footed, defensive midfield prowess defining his contributions at both club and U21 international level.

Early life and youth career

Early life

Vincent Samways was born on 27 October 1968 in , a district in 's East End. Raised in a family in this traditionally tough, urban environment, Samways grew up surrounded by the community life of the East End during the late and . His family were avid supporters of Tottenham Hotspur, fostering his early passion for from a young age. In , he first encountered the sport through school activities and local teams, participating in Schools football where his technical abilities stood out. He progressed to representing district and county teams, playing for local clubs that provided structured opportunities beyond casual games. These experiences in his childhood environment laid the groundwork for his talent, leading to his and eventual move to Tottenham Hotspur's youth system around age 13 or 14. He later moved to , , near Tottenham's training ground.

Youth career

Samways joined Hotspur's youth system after being scouted while playing for local teams and representing district and county sides, including Schools . He began training with the club at around age 13 or 14, initially invited for sessions while also trialing at , before committing fully to Spurs. In April 1985, at age 16, Samways signed as an apprentice with , marking his formal entry into organized club football. He progressed rapidly through the ranks, competing in the South East Counties League and earning early recognition for his abilities as a central after transitioning from the left side of the pitch. Under , he trained alongside promising talents and participated in key matches that showcased his technical skills and vision in midfield, contributing to team successes at the junior level. Samways signed his first professional contract with in 1986, turning professional at age 17 ahead of integration into senior training sessions. By the 1986–87 season, he had advanced to the reserves and begun training with the first team under manager , paving the way for his senior squad involvement.

Playing career

Club career

Samways began his professional club career with , joining the before making his first-team debut in the 1986–87 season. Under manager , he established himself as a reliable central , contributing to the team's competitive efforts in the First Division with his tenacious tackling and precise passing. Over eight seasons at , he made 246 appearances and scored 17 goals across all competitions, showcasing leadership qualities in a compact frame measuring 1.72 meters. In July 1994, Samways transferred to for a fee of £2.2 million, becoming one of the club's significant signings that summer. However, he struggled with adaptation to the new environment and tactical demands, managing only 28 appearances and 4 goals during his three-year stint amid limited playing time and loan spells. Seeking a fresh start, he moved to Spanish side in 1996 for £700,000, where he quickly integrated into the culture and was appointed club captain, helping stabilize the midfield in the . Samways' time at Las Palmas spanned six seasons, during which he made 204 appearances and scored 6 goals, contributing to promotion to La Liga in 2000. Following relegation in 2002, he joined Sevilla FC, where he played 10 league matches and became the first Englishman to feature in the Sevilla derby against Real Betis. His career wound down with a return to England at Walsall in 2003 (45 appearances, 2 goals) before a final season at Algeciras CF in 2004–2005. Across his career, Samways made 523 appearances and scored 29 goals in all competitions.

International career

Samways represented England at youth international level between 1985 and 1986. These matches helped build his tactical awareness and composure on the pitch against emerging European talents. In 1988, he advanced to the England under-21 side, securing five caps and scoring one goal across competitive and friendly fixtures. His contributions included a substitute appearance in a 1–1 draw with in a May friendly, starting and netting the decisive goal in a 1–0 Toulon Tournament win over the on 7 June, and starting in the tournament final—a 2–4 extra-time defeat to France on 12 June. Later that year, he started in a 0–0 friendly against on 13 September and a 1–1 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying draw versus on 18 October, showcasing his passing range and midfield control in qualification efforts. Despite consistent club performances, particularly during his tenure, Samways received no senior call-ups, attributed to stiff midfield competition and perceptions of his slight build limiting physical robustness at the highest level. His and under-21 exposures significantly aided professional maturation, fostering adaptability against varied international styles and bolstering confidence in high-stakes environments.

Coaching career

Managerial role

Shortly after retiring from professional in 2005, Samways took up a managerial role at UD San Pedro, a club based in near in the lower tiers of Spanish , leveraging his prior experience playing in the country with clubs like and Sevilla. He served as manager for two seasons, from 2006 to 2008, during which the team competed in the Regional Preferente de , the fifth tier of the .

Post-management activities

Following his departure from managing UD San Pedro in 2008, Samways transitioned away from professional coaching roles and settled into a quieter life in southern . He relocated to the area, where he has maintained strong community connections from his playing days with , occasionally engaging with local circles. In the years after , Samways entered the agency business, founding and operating a firm based in that represents players and clubs internationally, with a focus on and . By 2021, he continued this work while serving as an ambassador for The Sports Business Club, a networking for sports professionals. Samways has remained involved in football discourse through occasional media appearances, including in-depth interviews reflecting on his Spanish career. In 2021, he discussed adapting to life and matches against stars like and with journalist Graham Hunter. Earlier, in 2017, he provided punditry on ' form, urging the club to show more resilience amid a poor run. As of 2025, Samways resides in and makes sporadic trips to the for events, such as a September gathering with former Tottenham teammates to reminisce about the 1991 FA Cup-winning squad. His enduring ties to , where he is remembered as an icon from his Las Palmas tenure, underscore his lasting impact on the region's community.

Personal life

Family and residences

Vinny Samways was born and raised in , in London's East End, where his family were avid supporters of , a passion shared with his wife's family. Little public information is available about his spouse or extended family, reflecting Samways' preference for privacy in personal matters. He is known to have at least one child, a son born around 1996, who assisted with Spanish translation during the family's early years in . During his playing career, Samways relocated to in 1994 upon joining , temporarily shifting his family base to the area before moving again in 1996 to , , for his stint with . These career-driven moves influenced family life, including a period of commuting between and in the mid-2000s while his family remained settled on the island. Post-retirement in 2005, Samways established a long-term residence in southern , transitioning from to the mainland while continuing to embrace aspects of culture, such as local cuisine, alongside English customs like golfing with expatriate friends. He owned a bar in , an English-oriented resort on , which facilitated social integration during his playing days there. By 2020, he was working as a agent from his Spanish base, and as of 2025, he continues in this role, underscoring a permanent adaptation to life abroad with limited details shared publicly about family dynamics.

Interests and legacy

Samways has maintained a strong affinity for English throughout his life, remaining a devoted supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, the club where he began his professional career. He regularly follows matches via satellite television and has expressed optimism about Spurs' future in interviews, emphasizing the importance of hard work for young players. His integration into Spanish culture was profound after relocating to the in 1996, where he adapted to the passionate fan environment of and embraced the local lifestyle. Samways has spoken about the challenges of this transition, including initial hostility from rival supporters who derisively called him "El Giri" (foreign scum), but he ultimately won over locals through his tenacity and leadership as . This cultural bridging extended to his personal pursuits, such as enjoying in the region's resorts, and earlier business ventures like owning a bar in , , catering to English expatriates. Samways' legacy endures particularly among Las Palmas supporters, who regard him as an adopted hero for his pivotal role in the club's 2000 promotion to and their subsequent 11th-place finish the following season. As one of the early English players to thrive in —following pioneers like —he influenced subsequent British expatriates by demonstrating resilience against and cultural barriers, transforming from an outsider to a club icon.

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur

During his tenure with Tottenham Hotspur from 1986 to 1994, Vinny Samways contributed to the club's major team honour of winning the in the 1990–91 season. Tottenham defeated Nottingham Forest 2–1 after extra time in the final at on 18 May 1991, with goals from Paul Stewart in the 55th minute and an own goal by in the 94th minute, after had opened the scoring for Forest in the 16th minute; Samways started in midfield and was substituted in the 82nd minute. Additionally, shared the 1991 with after a 0–0 draw on 10 August 1991 at , a match played between the previous season's league champions and winners.

Everton

During his tenure at from 1994 to 1996, Samways was a member of the squad that secured the club's fifth title in the 1994–95 season by defeating Manchester United 1–0 in the final at . As winners, faced league champions Rovers in the , emerging victorious with a 1–0 win thanks to Samways' chipped in the 57th minute, which caught Tim off his line. This marked 's eighth Charity Shield triumph and Samways' sole contribution in the match.

UD Las Palmas

Samways captained to the title in the 1999–2000 season, securing promotion to with 82 points from 42 matches. He made 33 appearances in the league that season.

References

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