Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterDennis Wises 2002 transfer to Millwall was one of the biggest deals in the clubs history, as the Lions snapped up the 21-time England international and three-time FA Cup winner.The Lions had convinced Wise to drop down a division to join the club, but remarkably, Millwalls then-boss Mark McGhee had no idea it was happening.Thats because a chance conversation between Lions owner Theo Paphitis and another former England and Chelsea star in Ray Wilkins brought about a deal that was made at breakneck speed.Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 ListPaphitis on how he signed Dennis WiseI had a heart to heart with Mark McGhee the previous week, he Paphitis recalls to FourFourTwo. He said that we needed a Dennis Wise style character in midfield.We had Tim Cahill, then a promising kid, learning his job, box to box. Dennis at the time had just left Leicester after an incident. You may like Theo Paphitis discusses breaking protocol before Millwall's 2004 FA Cup Final against Manchester United Ex-Millwall owner Theo Paphitis on Millwall's 'scary' European adventure Ruud Gullit lifts the lid on his days managing one of England's feistiest midfielders And as fate would have it, Paphitis was soon handed the opportunity to act on McGhees request. It just so happened that I went for a drink with Ray Wilkins, who was a neighbour. Over that drink... Ray asked if Id thought about Dennis. I didnt like Dennis agent at the time, that raving monster Eric Hall character. He was really rude when I tried to sign Dennis when he left Chelsea. So, Ray made a discreet enquiry directly to Dennis on my behalf.I ended up speaking to Dennis and said, I guarantee theyll love you at The Den, even though he thought I was having a laugh by trying to get him to Millwall. I told him, though, that I wouldnt deal with his agent I said, You have to deal with that. We didnt have an agent present doing the deal. I broke loads of taboos, as it all happened really quickly.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 we made him our highest-paid player, it didnt lock us into some long-term commitment. It wasnt going to hurt the club financially, and once Dennis was mentally committed, he made it very easy, for which all Millwall supporters have always been grateful.The speed of the deal meant that Paphitis had no chance to involve McGhee.We did the deal, then I rang Mark and told him there was a press conference organised for tomorrow, he continues. I said Ive got you a new player. He was a bit surprised.I reminded him that hed asked for a Dennis Wise style character for midfield and said Well, Ive got you one. He asked Any chance youre going to tell me who? I said Yes, Dennis Wise.There was silence on the other end of the line.TOPICSDennis WiseChampionshipJoe 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 fromAndew Dillon
