Troy Deeney stuns Simon Jordan with his biggest rivalry in English football – and it’s NOT an obvious pick – as he claims one iconic derby is bigger than Arsenal v Tottenham

Troy Deeney stunned Simon Jordan by naming England’s biggest football rivalry and flatly rejected suggestions that Arsenal-Tottenham is the biggest derby on the calendar.

The 35-year-old spent the best years of his career at Watford, winning promotion from the Championship with the Hornets and scoring 47 Premier League goals in the process.

Further spells at Birmingham, Walsall and Forest Green Rovers formed the remainder of his playing career before Deeney retired last year and subsequently took up the head coaching role at Rovers.

Deeney’s reign as Forest Green manager lasted just 29 days before he was sacked after publicly criticizing players and receiving a four-match suspension for verbally abusing a referee.

However, his exploits as a striker in the English top flight earned him legendary status, but the striker’s true love for football has always remained with his boyhood club, Birmingham.

Deeney previously starred for Watford scoring 47 Premier League goals for the Hornets.

Deeney dismissed the suggestion that Tottenham’s rivalry with Arsenal is the biggest in England.

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A late-career move to Birmingham was one of the highlights of his career and Deeney believes the Second City Derby against Aston Villa is the biggest rivalry in England.

Explaining his reasons for the selection, Deeney said talkSPORT: ‘I think that, personally, we are bigger than Tottenham-Arsenal. In terms of rivalry absolutely.

Co-host Jordan responded in shock saying ‘What?!’ before adding: “It’s such a rare game that Birmingham can barely play against Villa because they’ve gone back to their place in the youth ranks.”

Deeney scored 11 goals in 56 appearances for Birmingham before being released by the Championship side as part of a player exodus in the summer of 2021.

The iconic rivalry between Villa and the blue half of Birmingham is one of the highest-grossing clashes in England, but it is a rare encounter given the two clubs play in different divisions.

Deeney named the iconic Second City derby between Aston Villa and England the biggest in the country.

Deeney surprised Simon Jordan by claiming that the rivalry between Birmingham and Aston Villa is the biggest in England.

The two teams last met five years ago, at a time when Villa were battling in the Championship alongside Birmingham, and Deeney further revealed he had the chance to play for their city rivals.

Deeney added: “I had the chance to join Villa. “My best friend let me know it wouldn’t be a good idea and told me they wanted me to remove my Birmingham city tattoo.

‘It was part of the conversation in 2013 or 2014. I wouldn’t have removed it though and it didn’t get too far.

‘My best friend is Birmingham City and all my family are, except my brother. “It would have been a difficult place to live and see family if I had played for Villa.”