Crespo on Messi, returning to England and life as a manager

"You probably remember me with long hair," Hernan Crespo jokes - but it is clear this is the same striker who was once feared across Europe.

Now a manager, Crespo, 50, bases his coaching on scoring goals, passion and intensity - in what feels like a tribute to his playing career. It is something he hopes can take him back to the top level of European football.

"I played in all the great events - three World Cups... I reached the Champions League final - an unforgettable one against Liverpool," he says with a knowing laugh as he recalls AC Milan throwing away a 3-0 lead then losing on penalties in 2005.

"I won the Europa League with Parma as a player, the Premier League with Chelsea, Serie A, the Copa Libertadores, the Olympics. As a man who loves football, I want more. I want to repeat that experience as a coach."

Crespo is not taking shortcuts. His coaching career began in the academy at Parma, where he is a club legend, while studying for his coaching qualifications at Italy's renowned football centre in Coverciano.

A faltering start at Serie B side Modena prompted a return to his roots in Argentina, where he excelled at Defensa y Justicia - a relatively small club in Buenos Aires - by leading them to success in the Copa Sudamericana.

He then won titles at Sao Paulo in Brazil, Al-Duhail in Qatar and, perhaps most remarkably, guided UAE club Al Ain to Asian Champions League success in 2024.

"I needed to reset in Argentina to come back to Europe stronger," he says. "I am the same Crespo as a footballer and as a coach.

"My football is about the ball - building, attacking, being aggressive... achieving results in offensive terms, but always with balance in recovering the ball, applying pressure and creating movements to win it back.

"I will never forget my essence as a person. I was always a forward, so I always thought about scoring goals and being aggressive. It is a spirit I had as a kid. I try to respect that even now."

Crespo is speaking in English from his home in Argentina as he awaits news from his agent having instructed him to look for opportunities across the globe.

He hopes one day to return to England, where he enjoyed a successful spell at Chelsea.

"I still follow the Premier League and it is the top destination," he says. "I am working hard to come back."

One of the iconic moments from Crespo's time at Chelsea shows him looking mesmerised as he stares at the Premier League medal he won under Jose Mourinho in 2006.

However, despite scoring 26 goals in 73 games across two seasons - with more than a third of those appearances coming from the bench - Crespo struggled to fully adapt to England.

"I always say I wish I had another life where I could have spent more days at Chelsea," he says.

"I am an older man now, and I would like to come back to understand it better. It was very hard for me personally at that time. My days at Chelsea, and for my family, were not easy - but the fans were amazing.

"England lives football the right way. When I saw that medal, I remembered everything - from being a kid, the sacrifices, the dressing room with [Gianfranco] Zola, [Gianluca] Vialli and [Ruud] Gullit before me, then arriving at that moment with Mourinho, [Didier] Drogba, a great captain like John Terry, and a great midfielder like Frank Lampard.

"I will never forget that moment and I am very proud to have been part of it. When I saw that medal, my whole life flashed before my eyes."

Crespo says he has enjoyed watching former Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi manage in England, but insists he tries to "be myself".

He has recently been linked with roles at Rayo Vallecano, Marseille, as well as former clubs Lazio and Parma.

Crespo played with Lionel Messi at the 2006 World Cup - his final appearance on the world stage with Argentina, and the current captain's first.

He says he knew Messi was "different" from the moment he saw his first touch, and recalls their first meeting in a Champions League tie between Barcelona and Chelsea in 2006, when Asier del Horno was sent off for a foul on Messi.

With Messi turning 39 in three weeks' time, it is widely expected this will be his final World Cup, with Argentina defending their title.

"Whoever loves football will be happy watching him," says Crespo. "It will be the Messi from Qatar - one who sets people up, rather than one who beats three players and scores. That Messi is gone.

"Players like Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Emi Martinez all need to step up. Fernandez was the leader of my Defensa y Justicia team, even though he was young. Now he is world famous. I tried to help him become a great player. I am proud, but I only helped him a little, because everything he has achieved is because of him.

"Argentina have learned how to play with or without Messi. I think they are among the favourites, along with Spain and France. Maybe England can do it, or Brazil - but the other three are my favourites.

"It is very hard to win it twice in a row and you need to be lucky. It is also very sad that it will be Messi's last one. We want it to be his last dance."