1998–99 in English football gets the manager's job on a permanent basis. 28 October 1998 – Chelsea player-manager Gianluca Vialli scores a hat-trick in the 4–1 League Cup third round win over Aston Villa. Making his debut as a late substitute is 17-year-old defender John Terry. On the same day, striker Brian Laudrup's departure from Chelsea is announced after just four months at the club. 31 October 1998 – Ron Reeves, a 55-year-old steward, is killed outside Highfield Road stadium after being crushed by the Arsenal team coach just before a game with Coventry City. The month ends with Aston Villa still top, a
2000–01 Aston Villa F.C. season a top-six finish. The arrival of Croatian striker Boško Balaban at the end of the season gave fans renewed hope that next season might deliver more success. "Aston Villa's score comes first" 2000–01 Aston Villa F.C. season During the 2000–01 English football season, Aston Villa competed in the Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons). Another season of decent (but rarely exciting) form saw Villa secure another top-10 finish, though this time they dipped slightly into eighth place after occupying sixth place a year earlier. Villa proved themselves as one of the hardest Premiership teams to