Hughes’ heroes the new Welsh legends

MARK HUGHES admits he has been picking the managerial brains of Alex Ferguson as he goes about transforming Wales from no-hopers into a team feared on the world stage.

Hughes has made several trips to Manchester United's Carrington HQ to learn from the man who shaped so much of his own playing career.

Ferguson has admitted to being impressed by the Wales chief, and the way things are going it may not be too fanciful to suggest he could even be helping produce his own successor.

Engineering a stunning victory over Italy only the second time Wales have beaten them in their history not harm to Hughes' credentials.

Three years into the job he has moulded a side in his own image. Professionalism, effort, bravery, strength, team work and outstanding physical fitness are its key virtues.

And what he has produced was there for all to see on a delirious night under the Millennium Stadium roof on Wednesday evening.

Before the game Wales paraded their greatest-ever player, John Charles, hero of the side that reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup before they were beaten by Pele's first-ever international goal.

That game was later reflected in a book entitled 'The day Pele broke our hearts' and certainly since then, heartbreak is all that has followed.

Wales have had their legends. From the 1958 team Charles, Cliff Jones, Terry Medwin, Jack Kelsey, Ivor Allchurch. From the 76 team, John Toshack, Bryan Flynn, John Mahoney.

And from 93, Hughes, Ian Rush, Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe, Dean Saunders.

Now they have the team of 2002. Hughes said before last night's game: "I have players who are waiting to make their names." They certainly did that.

Whatever happens now, these players have written their names in Welsh soccer history. In 50 years time they will still talk of the night in Cardiff when the great Italians were outclassed.

So few really great results have come Wales' way over the years, that memories of the good days remain vivid.

Beating Italy just like beating Brazil in 91, overcoming Germany in the same year as well as last May, are such days. Likewise beating Spain in 85 and France the year before.

And of course no Welshman will ever forget the 4-1 hammering of England at Wrexham in 1980, or at the same ground four years later when Hughes' first international goal secured a 1-0 success the last time the countries met.

But this triumph against Italy matches any of those moments of history. And Hughes has achieved it by blending youthful skill and spirit with experience drawn from all levels of the game.

Paul Jones in goal, dumped by Southampton, produced one wonder save from a free-kick deflected off Giggs' head that will rank with any in his career.

At right-back Mark Delaney, also currently out of his club side at Aston Villa, figures prominently.

In central defence young Danny Gabbidon, who has taken the step up from the Second Division in his stride, is alongside Fulham's Andy Melville, another player now seemingly permanently on the bench at his club.

Left-back sees Gary Speed happily converted from midfield, where he played throughout his Premiership career.

Ryan Giggs down one side and Craig Bellamy out on the right, now pose a threat along the flanks to any side they care to meet, while the engine room are Mark Pembridge and Robbie Savage.

Then there is Simon Davies, barely into his top-flight career but a sensation now for his country with goals and pace to burn, plus a willingness to run and tackle in midfield. Up front is another who cannot get a regular run for his club, Celtic's John Hartson.

These are the new stars of Welsh football, the men who will be legends just like John Charles.