Wednesday A-Z: 3/26 - Carbone!

Vital Wednesday's third installment of the 'Wednesday A-Z' brings you recent legend, Benito Carbone...

A man who, by some, wouldn't really be considered a 'legend' in the blue and white shirt, but who was certainly one of Wednesday's greatest ever Premier League players.

Being 26, 'Benny' was around at the peak of my teenage interest in the Owls, someone who I got on the back of my shirt and someone who I pretended to be while out on the field playing footy with mates.

I'm sure some of you were the same.

While others were Ryan Giggs, Harry Kewell (unfortunately a fair few Leeds fans from where I was brought up) and Alan Shearer, I stood proud with my 'Carbone 8' shirt, trying the flicks and turns, with not much luck I might add.

It's hard to argue against Carbone being in Wednesday's greatest ever Premier League XI.

In his prime he could have got in the actual Premier League XI.

Arriving from Inter Milan in 1996, yes Inter Milan, big things were expected of the little Italian.

Going from the San Siro to Hillsborough was going to be a bit of a culture shock for Benny, but he was no doubt helped out by the arrival of a certain Mr Di Canio not long after.

A striking partnership that no doubt brings tears to grown men's eyes in our current state of affairs at S6, and one that we may not see again - hopefully I'm wrong on that one.

Carbone spent three years in the famous blue and white stripes - it seemed longer at the time.

Notching up 25 goals in 96 appearances for the Owls, Carbone quickly became a fans' favourite and won the player of the year award in the 1998-99 season after becoming the club's top scorer.

He was always a joy to watch, but I remember he almost came into his own, and took that next step when Di Canio left for West Ham.

I'm sure he didn't like seeing his strike partner go, but it meant he was centre stage - the man that Wednesday depended on, our star man.

He scored some crackers - goals that you'll never forget.

That chip against Nottingham Forest live on Sky, that thunderbolt of an effort against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park - forget the 7-2 drubbing that was dished out, that goal almost made up for it.

Carbone may have been a high earner at a time when Wednesday seemed to be throwing money away on wages - the start of the downfall if you like.

But unlike others he gave Wednesdayites a load of memories that we can cherish, and some star performances that helped us hold our own in England's top flight.

I can remember how sad I was to see him leave to Aston Villa in 1999, but I still enjoyed seeing him smash some goals in for them.

A certain hat-trick against Leeds was pretty special too.

Hopefully we can see someone of Carbone's class and quality at Hillsborough again in the not-too-distant future, here's hoping...