Former Southend United boss Ronnie Whelan has the unenviable task of tackling the most expensive club side ever assembled in World football history in tonight's European Cup Winners Cup quarter-final.

After turning his back on the hustle and bustle of the English game Whelan is enjoying a laid-back lifestyle next to the Mediterranean as boss of Greek minnows Panionios these days.

However, life could be about to get a touch uncomfortable for the former Liverpool, Southend and Republic of Ireland midfield star, as the £70 million superstars of Italian giants Lazio prepare to hit town.

"We've got home advantage tonight and the most important thing is to ensure that Lazio don't embarrass us," said the 37-year-old, who quit the Shrimpers in 1997 following relegation to the Second Division.

"Being realistic we don't have a chance of beating them and the best we can hope for is to put on a good performance here in front of own supporters, before ensuring we don't get humiliated in Italy.

"But I know from my experiences of playing domestic cup football in England that the underdog always has a chance of pulling off a major shock.

"Although, we would have had a much better chance in a one-off match situation, but who's to say we can't spring a surprise tonight - funnier things have happened."

Panionios have won their way through to the last eight of the Cup Winners Cup following victories over Finnish side Haka and Cypriots Apollon.

However, tonight's match is real David and Goliath stuff with Panionios, who are currently 11th in the Greek league, hoping to slay Lazio, who have a four point lead at the top of Italy's Serie A.

Whelan's players will be cheered on by a sell-out 15,000 crowd against Lazio whose megastars, such as superstar strikers Marcelo Salas and Christian Vieri, have proved an additional attraction.

"Their team is full of class players and internationals who will make life very difficult," Whelan said. "It is hard to pick out one star from such a line-up, but if I had to I would choose Vieri.

"He is almost the complete centre forward and will cause us the most problems with his power in the air and on the ground. We'll have to keep a close eye on him."

Whatever happens in tonight's encounter, Whelan will relish the return match at Rome's Olympic Stadium in a fortnight's time - the scene of his greatest triumph.

Whelan was part of the Liverpool team which lifted the European Cup in 1984 after a 4-2 penalty shoot out win over Roma - who groundshare with Lazio - on their own patch.

This was the last occasion that an English side lifted European club football's most sought after trophy and nearly 70,000 fans watched the match - which was all square at 1-1 after normal time.

"It was probably the pinnacle of my career and is a night I'll never forget," Whelan recalled.

"The final was a home match for Roma and with such a large contingent of Italian fans the atmosphere was highly volatile.

"But we pulled off a magnificent result against all the odds and I'm looking forward to going back there and reliving a few old memories.

"Although, I have been back there once in the 1990 World Cup when Ireland played Italy, but I didn't get onto the pitch."

No matter what happens against Lazio, Whelan can't lose as he will always be a hero to the Panionios fans - whose last taste of European adventure came back in 1979 in the same competition.

He has two-and-a-half years left on his current contract with the Greek club, but admits he wants to make a return to English club management one day.

"Everything's a lot different over here and there's a very thin dividing line between success and failure - if you win you're great, but if you lose you're rubbish," he said.

"However, the lifestyle is a lot easier and as a manager you do more work on the training pitch than in the office, which I prefer.

"But I would like to return home and manage a club again once my contract is up - we'll just have to see what happens."

Whelan, who has taken Blues to the High Court over a compensation claim, still keeps an eye on Southend's results.

"I had some very good times at Roots Hall - it wasn't all bad -- and it saddens me to see them struggling at the bottom of Division Three," he said.

"But I'm sure they'll fight their way out of their predicament and do much better next year - they certainly won't go down to the Conference."

Tough times - Ronnie Whelan before leaving Southend

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