Jon Parkin reveals hilarious story about swapping shirts with Italy and Real Madrid legend Fabio Cannavaro while playing for Stoke City
The 17 stone striker, nicknamed 'The Beast', has released an autobiography re-telling some of the more memorable incidents from his career
Jon Parkin is renowned as one of the most colourful and entertaining lower-league footballers of his generation.
The 6"4 tall, 17 stone striker played for Preston North End, Hull City, York City and Cardiff City to name just a few from a career spanning two decades.
Now at National League North side York City, 'The Beast' is releasing an autobiography on September 13th to give fans a glimpse into the supposedly glamorous lifestyle of footballers.
In a snippet released to the , Parkin recalls the time he played against Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly for Stoke City.
Pitted against arguably the greatest defender of all time Fabio Cannavaro, the 36-year-old reveals he wasn't exactly in the best shape after writing off a golf buggy on holiday previously.
He said: "I was bandaged up (after injuries sustained writing off a golf buggy during a pre-season incident) and I had my shin pads over that and my sock and though it was painful, I was okay for the bench.
"They had Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Raul playing and when I came on for the second half, I was being marked by Fabio Cannavaro, capped 136 times by Italy.
"I tried a 40-yard chip that skimmed the bar. It would have been nice if it had gone in, but they knocked it around in their sleep and won 2-0. It had been a piece of p*** for them.
"I asked Cannavaro after the game if I could have his shirt and he nodded, took it off and handed it to me. As I walked away I felt a tap on my shoulder and he pointed at my shirt. I said: “You want this?”
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"He just nodded and I was thinking, ‘What the f*** for? To wipe your dog down after a walk?’
"I handed it over, we shook hands and that was it. I still have his shirt, framed in my house. I bet my quadruple XL Stoke shirt with ‘Parkin’ on has got pride of place in his house, too."
Parkin came on the Hawksbee and Jacobs Show on Tuesday to discuss the incident, check out the hilarious footage below!
Parkin's book, Feed The Beast, is out on September 13 and charts his career and antics both on and off the pitch