Troy Deeney has recalled how his iconic Championship play-off goal led to swapping shirts with Real Madrid royalty, Gonzalo Higuain.<\/strong><\/p>\n The talkSPORT pundit<\/a> was front and centre of last-gasp drama for Watford<\/a> in their 3-1 semi-final clash against Leicester City in 2013.<\/p>\n 5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> 5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Deeney thumped in a half-volley at the end of a counter-attack after Anthony Knockaert missed a penalty in second half stoppage-time.<\/p>\n “Now here come Watford… Forestieri… Here’s Hogg… Deeney!” is how the famous commentary sounded on television.<\/p>\n Watford reached the final at Wembley with a 3-2 aggregate win only to lose 1-0 against Crystal Palace to end their promotion hopes.<\/p>\n But Deeney’s moment will forever be one of the most dramatic goals in English football history, and it caught the eyes of the world.<\/p>\n Even former Argentine striker Higuain<\/a>, who won three LaLiga titles and scored 121 goals at Madrid<\/a>, couldn’t take his eye of the scenes.<\/p>\n Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Deeney revealed how he managed to exchange shirts when his fellow forward was on loan at Chelsea.<\/p>\n At the time, the Blues were managed by Maurizio Sarri, with Deeney’s ex-Watford manager Gianfranco Zola as assistant boss.<\/p>\n “Actually I wanted to meet Higuain because I was a huge fan of the man himself, and obviously I knew Zola from that time.<\/p>\n “I remember talking to Zola in the tunnel after the game and I said, ‘What’s the chances of getting Higuain’s shirt?’ He said, ‘Yeah, no problem.’ Goes in, he’s like, ‘Ah, he wants to meet you as well.’ <\/p>\n “‘Ok, that’s a bit strange.’ I thought he was just being nice, like most people do. I remember before, I’ve changed shirts with Yaya Toure and Yaya clearly goes, ‘Can I have your top as well?’ You’re like, ‘You’re clearly just throwing that in the bin’, or he’s washing his car with it.<\/p>\n 5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> 5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> “Higuain came out and we had a chat, he was just basically saying that he remembers watching that goal over and over on YouTube, that moment.<\/p>\n “We ended up speaking, and you feel like a bit of an imposter, you’re talking to Higuain about the goal against Leicester. Obviously you’re like, ‘You’ve done a lot better than me in life.’ <\/p>\n “But it was great, I’ve still got that shirt in the office as well so very, very nice story, very nice time. <\/p>\n “That goal gets played around this time anyway, so I’m sure the people that run my socials will be happy with that.”<\/p>\n Watford were eventually promoted to the Premier League in 2015, with Deeney remaining key to the side in their success.<\/p>\n He helped them return to the top flight in 2021 too but then left the club and joined his boyhood side Birmingham City.<\/p>\n 5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Deeney will now keep a close eye on this season’s Championship play-off final, which will be live on talkSPORT<\/a> on May 24.<\/p>\n Sheffield United will contest for promotion after thrashing Bristol City 6-0 in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n They will face Sunderland, who scored a dramatic late winner<\/a> against Coventry City to book their place at Wembley.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Fans](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/05\/2013-watford-skybet-championship-play-995230207.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
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<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Deeney](\"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/05\/f31af20c-710c-4a1d-93fd-565c124e9e99_495841.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
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