Steve Ogrizovic, a pivotal figure in Coventry City's history, has reflected on the club's challenging journey, from its lowest ebb to its current resurgence and return to top-flight football.
Ogrizovic, who holds the club record for appearances with 601 games as a player and later served on the coaching staff for 19 years, recalled the club's difficult periods. Among them, he identified the 2016-17 relegation season into League Two as a particularly low point, a time before Mark Robins' return as manager and the subsequent Wembley victory.
"The very lowest ebb is difficult to locate. 'There's been a few,' admits Steve Ogrizovic," the club legend stated. He noted that the move from Highfield Road to the stadium now known as the CBS Arena in 2005, which he described as "not thought out or financed properly," was a catalyst for many of the club's subsequent financial struggles. These financial difficulties led to administration in March 2013 and a year spent playing away from Coventry.
Ogrizovic, who joined Coventry in 1984 and was part of the team that won the FA Cup in 1987, also spoke about the importance of fan support. He highlighted the 43,000 Coventry fans who attended the 2017 Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley, even as the team was being relegated to League Two. "It showed the fanbase was still there and people still cared about the club and wanted to get behind them," he said.
Reflecting on his own career, Ogrizovic mentioned his time learning from Ray Clemence at Liverpool and his passion for cricket, where he played for Shropshire and the Minor Counties. He recounted bowling out Viv Richards during a match.
However, the 1987 FA Cup final victory remains a standout memory. "Not a day goes by without someone coming up to talk to me about the FA Cup final in 1987 (a 3-2 win over Tottenham)," Ogrizovic shared. "I'll never tire of it."
He also emphasized the intangible qualities that contribute to a team's success. "Sports scientists can't measure it. They can measure lots of things with data but not the strength of team spirit and what those bonds give you," he explained.
Following their climb back from League Two, including promotion via the play-offs in 2018 and winning League One in 2020, Coventry experienced a near miss in the 2023 FA Cup semi-final and lost in the 2023-24 FA Cup semi-final on penalties to Manchester United. The club saw a takeover by Doug King from SISU, and Mark Robins was replaced by Frank Lampard.
"Frank Lampard has done incredible things," Ogrizovic said of the current manager. "He's carried the baton, made some slight changes but has been committed to attacking football – as we were under Robins. We've gained momentum and become more consistent and it's got us to the Premier League. He's a god in Coventry at the moment."
King's ownership has also been met with praise, particularly his decision to return stadium ownership to the club. "A breath of fresh air," Ogrizovic described him.
Ogrizovic concluded by noting the cyclical nature of football. "Coventry's story is unique. It's a good one but there are clubs with similar stories, look at Leicester 10 years after winning the Premier League are in League One. They'll be back. Football has a habit of turning full circle. This is what football does, this is why it's so exciting, this is why we love it because if you've been through the pain of the bad times, you will enjoy the good times."