Harking back to the glory times for USA hero

That historic strike came 20 years ago in Wednesday’s 2-1 League Cup final defeat to Arsenal at Wembley.

Until this year, since leaving the Owls, where he spent three seasons between 1990 and 1993, Harkes had only been back to Hillsborough briefly as an opposition player with West Ham.

He returned to the USA where he enjoyed a successful playing career with DC United, New England Revolution and Columbus Crew, chalking up 90 appearances with the national side and gracing two World Cups.

So it was an emotional return to Sheffield in March for Harkes for the South Yorkshire derby with Barnsley to show his teenage son around.

“I’ve been back in England a few times but only really in London so this is the first time I’ve been back to Sheffield in 20 years,” said New Jersey-born Harkes, 46.

“Some fans will remember I did come back up here with West Ham when I had a loan spell there and I played a game here against Sheffield Wednesday.

“It was my son’s 18th birthday and I wanted to bring him up here and show him the club. I’ve tried to fill him in on everything; what a great team we had, a great manager, the fan base and everything about it – you don’t get that every day.

“A lot of footballers can play for 10-15 years and not have the experiences I had here in a short space of time.”

Harkes was brought to Hillsborough by former manager Ron Atkinson, and was a key member of the Owls team who stunned Manchester United to win the League Cup at Wembley in 1991.

The Owls would go on to win promotion back to the top flight, and in 1993 he was in the side that played at Wembley four times.

Asked about his highlights, Harkes added: “Winning the League Cup final against Manchester United – that was really a special moment, it was fantastic.

“Getting to the FA Cup semi-final and playing Sheffield United at Wembley was pretty special and the two finals in 1993.

“They sometimes burn a little bit because we didn’t win the medals but all of that came within three years,” added Harkes, a USA television pundit.