Emile Heskey competed alongside some of the best players the Premier League and England had to offer during the 2000s.
The striker started his career with Leicester City before going on to represent Liverpool, Birmingham City, Wigan, and Aston Villa during his time in the top flight.
Heskey also played a part in England’s ‘Golden Generation’, winning 62 caps between his debut in 1999 and his retirement in 2010.
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His career on the international stage had its highs and lows, from the Three Lions’ thrilling 5-1 win in Germany in 2001 to their abysmal outing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
However, the 47-year-old has now revealed perhaps the most bizarre experience from his time in an England shirt during an appearance on Adebayo Akinfenwa’s Beast Mode On Podcast.
Heskey has dished the dirt on a fiery fight in the tunnel during England’s 0-0 draw with Turkey in Istanbul in 2003.
David Beckham, who captained Sven-Goran Eriksson's side that night, missed a penalty during the first half, much to the delight of Turkey defender Alpay Ozalan.
The former Aston Villa man goaded Beckham on the pitch before continuing his verbal assault as the teams returned to the dressing room at half-time.
Heskey said that Wayne Rooney “dropped” Alpay in the tunnel after another coming together between Ashley Cole and Turkey’s Hasan Sas
“We played Turkey in qualifying, Becks missed a penalty,” the former England international said.
“We had a fight in the tunnel at half-time.
"We were walking through the tunnel, and Alpay's coming through, and he's obviously being loud.
“I'm just walking straight through, quiet, towards the breakout area, and Ashley Cole and [ex-Turkey international] Hasan Sas [are mouthing off to each other], and he [Sas] goes and spits at him [Cole] in the face.
“So I slapped him, and then everyone jumped in and we're literally fighting.
“And then we're hearing after that Rooney's having a fight with Alpay, he's just hit him and dropped him in the tunnel."
Alpay was subsequently released by Aston Villa after life in England became too difficult for him and his family.
"In light of recent events, it would have been difficult for Alpay to represent Aston Villa again in the future," said Villa chairman Doug Ellis following his release.
"The player himself was aware that life in England had become increasingly difficult for him and his family.
"Therefore, both parties agreed that the best course of action was for immediate termination of his contract which was due to expire in June 2004.”
He has since gone on to enter politics, and he was even elected Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 2018.
He was reportedly involved in another physical altercation with a fellow politician, Ozgür Ozel, in 2021.
Topics: England, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Turkey
Jonathan Bray