He might just have won over one or two new admirers by scoring the winner against Sampdoria on Tuesday, in a game that otherwise might easily have finished as a goalless stalemate between uninspired teams.
Lazio were denied a leap up to fifth place by Fiorentina, who remain one point ahead after a goalless draw in the capital.
One of the few remaining players from their heyday did his best to keep his club in the tie, Paul Cooper saving his fifth penalty of the season, as Colin Walsh failed to convert one of the rare chances during the goalless first leg at Portman Road.
Hamburg, 16th in the 18-team Bundesliga the last two seasons, also needed a relegation play-off to stay up last season thanks to an away goal in a 1-1 drat at Greuther Fuerth in the second leg of the play-off after a goalless first leg in Hamburg.
Representatives of the Thai Union Frozen Group, which owns John West Foods and is the world's largest producer of tuna, have been in talks with the club since the end of last year and attended last weekend's goalless home draw against Birmingham.
Fiorentina lost ground on Napoli and the last Champions League qualifying spot as they were held to a goalless draw at Torino.
After Nottingham Forest and Swansea ended their first leg goalless, Reading and Cardiff City will also reassemble, a day later on Tuesday, all square as they decide who will have the chance to grab the prize at Wembley later this month.
It took the Parkhead men eight points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership with both clubs having played 29 games albeit the Dons could have reduced the deficit but could only manage a goalless draw against Partick Thistle on Saturday.
Hibs midfielder Lee Miller was sent off during a goalless first half at Fir Park, the Republic of Ireland international receiving a straight red card in the 32nd minute for a late tackle on Jim O'Brien.
Bradford were founded in 1903, and only eight years later Jimmy Speirs gave the club their finest moment to date, his strike in the 1911 FA Cup final replay at Old Trafford – following a goalless draw at Crystal Palace – winning the Bantams their sole major trophy.
Inconsistency continues to dog the leading sides in League One, however, with Swindon Town held to a goalless draw by Notts County, although the point took them into second place on goal difference above Brentford, whose big match at Sheffield United was postponed.
