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divine intervention

Granada create North London derby pairing as Arsenal legend Tony Adams will work alongside ex-Tottenham defender

La Liga strugglers have hired John Metgod — whose last name translates as 'with God — for final four matches of campaign

GRANADA have turned to divine intervention as they make a miraculous bid to stave off relegation from La Liga — by pairing Tony Adams up with God.

The Spanish side are in 19th place and ten points away from safety with just four games remaining.

John Metgod has been appointed Tony Adams' assistant at Granada

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John Metgod has been appointed Tony Adams’ assistant at Granada

And Granada have hired John Metgod — whose last name translates into English as “with God” — to ease the burden on Adams.


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The pair have worked together before, during the former Arsenal skipper’s ill-fated spell in charge of Portsmouth in the 2008-09 season.

 

Tony Adams was appointed Granada coach on April 10, but has struggled

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Tony Adams was appointed Granada coach on April 10, but has struggled

Under Tony Adams, Granada have lost three and failed to score a goal

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Under Tony Adams, Granada have lost three and failed to score a goal

John Metgod's last name translates into English as 'with God'

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John Metgod’s last name translates into English as ‘with God’

Defender John Metgod in action during a spell with Nottingham Forest

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Defender John Metgod in action during his time with Nottingham Forest

And, despite Metgod being a former Tottenham player, the pair are keen to work together again.

Adams was appointed manager on April 10 but has lost all three matches in charge — without seeing his side score a single goal.

Metgod is a former Holland international who started his career at FC Haarlem and then AZ Alkmaar for the club’s ‘Golden Age’, where he won KNVB Cup three times in four years, as well as the Eredivisie in 1981 and he also reached the 1981 Uefa Cup final, losing to Ipswich.

John Metgod watches on while working under Tony Adams at Portsmouth

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John Metgod watches on while working under Tony Adams at Portsmouth

John Metgod in action for Tottenham during a clash with Chelsea in 1987

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John Metgod in action for Tottenham during a clash with Chelsea in 1987

The first English side of John Metgod's career was Nottingham Forest

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The first English side of John Metgod’s career was Nottingham Forest

The former defender moved to the Bernabeu 1982 for two campaigns and twice finished a runner-up in La Liga as well as once in the Copa del Rey, Cup Winners’ Cup, Spanish Super Cup and the now defunct Spanish League Cup.

In 1984, he moved from Los Blancos to Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest where he spent three seasons and became known for his stunning free-kicks.

Metgod moved to White Hart Lane in the summer of 1987, but made just 12 league appearances for Tottenham before returning to his homeland with Feyenoord, where he won another league title and stayed until retiring in 1994 and taking up a role as youth director.

John Metgod in action during the 1987-88 season he spent with Tottenham

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John Metgod in action during the 1987-88 season he spent with Tottenham

Tony Adams in action for Arsenal during one of many North London derbies

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Tony Adams in action for Arsenal during one of many North London derbies

He subsequently returned to the club in various roles, but his only managerial appointment thus far has been in two separate stints with Excelsior.

In 2008, he was hired as first-team coach at Fratton Park, working under Adams, but moved to Derby following the ex-Arsenal man’s sacking.

Metgod stayed with the Rams for four seasons before being appointed assistant at Colorado Rapids.

He earned 21 international caps and scored four goals.