Coffee 12:01 Fri Jan 19
Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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There was a time when many top players would join a lower league club when they were past their best, and play for them for a few more years. Why do so few do that these days?
You get the occasional footballer who is good at the game, but isn't all that interested in football. Lee Chapman was one. But most love the game. It's all they've had since a young age.
Do they just lose interest in playing? Do they lose interest in playing when the pay become rubbish? What is the reason?
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
Lertie Button
10:37 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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First they have so much money, second the dearth of quality means even an older player can still do a job and thirdly players look after themselves - you wouldn't have seen a 35 year old with Crouch's physique back in the day
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ludo21
10:36 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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As I expect someone has already said.... Joe Cole.
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one iron
10:29 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Money,coaches,pitches.
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Sydney_Iron
5:20 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Maybe the age gap comes into play as well? remember when I stopped playing a bog standard amateur level at about 40, as much as I loved the game the social side got a bit tedious at times as did the silly pranks or banter that went on, what you find amusing or like to do in your 20,s seems a bit boring or childish when your over 35.
If you’re a millionaire who’s played all your life, would imagine your love for playing the game would falter especially if you’re surrounded by adolescents at training all day.
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Johnson
4:55 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Surely the simple answer is they’re all too fucking rich for it and want out?
Why should they be the fattening 34 year old getting rinsed by the youth when they’re millionaires already?
I’m a ball playing centre back now because I can’t finish like I used to 20 years ago and I don’t have the pace and mobility of a younger man to do midfield like I did 10 years ago.
I can read the game and do well doing so but I play for my own fitness and enjoyment now but won’t play competitively as I hate Goals level players and chippy fucking youths.
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HairyHammer
4:51 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Too much money and contentment, physical exhaustion?
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Sydney_Iron
4:45 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Probably a few reasons and maybe more players than you realise still drop a division or 2 in there later careers, its just not newsworthy unless you’re a big name.
A big factor these days IMO is the training and fitness regime they need to follow and maintain, no matter which division you are playing in, Div 1&2 players train as hard as PL players, the skill and ability is the only thing that sets them apart, maintaining that fitness level is hard graft and no matter how much you may love the game that aspect is maybe the one that sees you retire by the time you are mid 30,s, Goalkeepers maybe the exception but the physical demands are a lot lower than the outfield players, which maybe why they seem to have longer careers.
Long gone are the days of players still doing it in there 40,s or even 50s like the legendry Stanley Mathews, game is vastly different though, long gone are the days of propping up the bar for a few pints and a pie and chips Saturday night after the 3pm Game…….
Been a few like Giggs but even he was played sparingly and selectively in is last 5 odd years, no way could he do 90 mins.
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Johnson
4:07 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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When Rob Green got married the only person to do with West Ham who was there was Spector.
Green hated football and footballers.
I wish I was better at something else so I didn’t have to do what I’m fucking mustard at. It happens.
It’s why people are married and don’t fuck their wife.
Just cos we’ve never played football every single day of our lives but want to be able to doesn’t mean it’s boring when you do it.
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Private Dancer
3:53 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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ornchurch ammer 2:17 Fri Jan 19
''Half of them probably don't like playing football, I.e. Only did it for the money''
Never read such garbage in all my days. Footballers don't like playing football? LOL.
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One Raducioiu!
12:34 Sat Jan 20
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Glad to see Barry Hayles get a mention. I watched him during his 3 stints at Truro City in his latter years. Clearly lives and breathes football. He’d look like he could barely run for the most part, then get one chance and bury it.
But yeah, I know there’s the whole money thing, but I am surprised that dropping down and helping out a smaller club for a few seasons doesn’t appeal to more players.
A few recent ones spring to mind... Boa Morte, Edgar Davids... not many though.
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Joe C
11:41 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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I saw Alessandro Del Piero playing up front for Sydney FC, alongside former Hammer, who was fucking shit, Richard Garcia. They were playing a Melbourne team managed by professional cunt Kevin Muscat.
At 36 years of age, Del Piero was better than every player on that pitch combined
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Charoo
11:15 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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So do we Morley Morley, played against Ben Thornley and Teddy Sheringham, plus ex Swansea and Charlton player turns out for us.
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geoffpikey
8:49 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top * players end their careers with small clubs?
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Dean Windass*, 48, currently plays for AFC Walkington in the Premier Division of the East Riding League.
Though he's probably blowing out his ass. Kaboom.
* Substitute "fat" for "top"
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Sniper
8:19 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Isn’t imagine, when you’ve been earning stupid money for years, the thought of earning a quarterback of it to play worse quality football where the subs bench isn’t heated ralley car seats and the changing room isn’t a luxury palace doesn’t really appeal much. Especially when you feck off to China, uae or America. It’d be like going from city banker to branch manager if natwest in lewisham high street
Or there’s the Jermaine jeans route of thinking ‘fuck it, I can string a sentence together, I’ll be a pundit - even when part of his input is talking about playing matches in a World Cup (which he never did)
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Sven Roeder
7:39 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Used to be that some dropped down as they saw it as a route into management or coaching.
Now they want to manage Wales after doing 4 games at Man U so don’t bother
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Alfs
6:34 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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gph 3:54 Fri Jan 19
Redknapp would have signed you with a stat like that!
This chap is still going at 50...
http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/12/japanese-star-kazuyoshi-miura-50-breaks-52-year-record-to-become-oldest-goalscorer-in-history-6505056/
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pulhampete
6:30 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Lampard went to Chelsea so it does occasionally happen.
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aldgate
6:21 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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andre ayew is still playing well past his best
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pulhampete
6:20 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Don't need the money, don't get the same adrenaline buzz and don't need the grief from fat Barry from the dog and duck trying to kick lumps out f them.
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MancIron
6:13 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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Nobody in their right mind would relish a cold January night in Bury.
Though not a really top player, my mate said he was still surprised to see Sylvan Ebanks-Blake turning out for Telford United against Salford City last week.
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Bungo
5:38 Fri Jan 19
Re: Why do so few top players end their careers with small clubs?
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I would imagine that it's also just a bit crap going from a top flight stadium, top hotels and top training facilities, to something a bit crap. Especially if you're rich enough to afford better yourself.
Be a bit like going on a weekend away with some poor mates and having to stay in a crappy B&B bevause they are, rather than the decent hotel you'd put yourself in.
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