Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterDuring his two-decade-long career, Youri Djorkaeff played with some of his generations greatest talents.At club level, he counts the Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who he played with at Inter Milan as his greatest-ever team-mate, while on the international front it, most neutrals would rank his midfield partner Zinedine Zidane as another of that eras greats.Less than four years after he assisted Zidanes crucial second goal in the 1998 World Cup final, Djorkaeffs career took an eye-raising handbrake turn, when he found himself playing alongside the likes of Dean Holden and Michael Ricketts at Bolton Wanderers.Play our FREE match predictor below and win �1kDjorkaeff on his Bolton team-matesDjorkaeff wasnt the only exciting foreign import that was intreguied by boss Sam Allardyces ambition, as the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Ivan Campo joined the 82-time France international in the north-west.We were all in the same boat, Djorkaeff recalls to FourFourTwo. If you play for Liverpool or United, the boat is huge. Ours was more like a little rowing boat! he laughs. You may like Ronaldo was the best in the world. Even if you ask Zinedine Zidane, Im sure hed say the same Youri Djorkaeff on what it was like to line up alongside two legends I have no regrets about turning down Liverpool and Manchester United. I needed that Bolton experience in my life Youri Djorkaeff on his 2002 Bolton move Sam Allardyce was the best manager Bolton could have had at that time. We were tough on the pitch and had a bit of magic the perfect formula Youri Djorkaeff reflects on his Bolton Wanderers stint If one of us leaned too far left, wed all fall in the water.The Trotters quickly built up a reputation as a team who were intent on upsetting the status quo and the little rowing boat Djorkaeff speaks of underlines that groups underdog mentality.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.While Bolton were not able to spend in the same manner as their illustrious neighbours in Manchester, or further away in Liverpool, the character and experience of the veterans brought in by Allardyce excelled in leadership roles.Campo and Okocha had more experience than most, so they helped me to lead that project, Djorkaeff adds.But while Djorkaeff has previously been happy to compare the likes of Zidane and Ronaldo, he believes that to do that with his former Bolton team-mates missed the point.You cant compare them it wouldnt be fair, he replied when asked if there were any areas where Kevin Nolan was better than Zidane.Maybe he was the better warrior? But then again, so was Zidane. Bolton was like Asterix and Obelix in their small village standing up to the Roman Empire.All of us were great fighters, battling against the rest.TOPICSBolton WanderersPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromDani Gil
