Initially I noticed this decline of a once high-flying – literally in his case- Hammers Striker who’d gradually fallen down the leagues but was still plying his trade as a shadow of his former self at the age of 35. I didn’t know whether to admire his never say die attitude or to feel sad that he is now playing in one of the lowest leagues in France having graced the London Stadium as recently as 2019.
What also caught my interest as I researched Andy Carroll’s gradual decline was the plight of his current club Bordeaux, six times French Champions but now, after a series of financial irregularities, relegated to the bottom tier of French pro football and then further forced into receivership which caused another demotion. My research took me to Newcastleworld.com who summed up the penalties now risked by clubs for breaking PSR and similar rules: ( are you watching Man City – who of course proclaim their innocence:)
“Bordeaux finished 12th in Ligue 2 last season but financial issues saw the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG) impose a relegation to the third tier.
Bordeaux then went into receivership after a decision taken by the city’s local commercial court in order to “allow (them) a season in the amateur National 1, however, the federal financial watchdog DNCG decided to relegate the club a further division to the fourth tier as per the French league’s (LFP) regulations, which stipulate a club in receivership must be “demoted to the division immediately below the one for which it would have qualified for the following season”.
So Former Hammers superstar Carroll finds himself playing for an amateur fifth league club. I’m still a bit open-mouthed about the penalty dished out to former French League Champions, to be honest!
A sad end to a stop-start career for Andy Carroll, too, but one which for me will always be remembered for ‘that’ overhead kick which I had the pleasure to witness in person from behind the goal at the other end: Still marvellous even when viewed from over 100 metres away.
Flying Andy Carroll – magic moment in Claret and Blue
Interestingly Carroll has linked up at Bordeaux with former Hammers under 21 starlet, winger Amadou Diallo who spent three years at the Hammers academy and was without a club, still searching for success at just 21 years old. We wish them both well.
Nothing to be sad about. He’s doing what he wants to do and now has the freedom of living a normal everyday life in a lovely part of the world. I’m sure he’s earned enough to live a comfortable life.
Sounds pretty good to me!
The interview I read about Carroll was that he is enjoying the anonymity of lower league French football and absolutely loving life in France. He can go to the pub and watch a game in peace, go to restaurants, walk down the street. Good luck to him, he’s a cracking bloke.
Good for him. He’s doing what he loves and the money I’m sure doesn’t matter. As fans we’ve all played at varying levels but we’ve done it for fun. I gave up at 40 and wish I’d carried on longer looking back.
Martin – I thought he’s playing at Amiens which is in Ligue 2?
Actually seen he’s set to join Bordeaux from Amiens…
It’s not sad at all……Andy’s playing because he loves the game and it’s not as if he needs the money is it? Bordeaux is also a beautiful place to live for his family.
Not so long ago, Joe Cole wound up his career with Coventry City in League One. Nobody said it was a sad decline to his career.