ANDY CARROLL has proven to be an instant fan favourite across the Channel after making a stunning transfer switch to fourth tie of French football.
Carroll, 35, completed a surprise move to crisis club Bordeaux from Amiens in September.
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The former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham ace has had an electric start to life in the French wine region with four goals in two games, and helping the club land their first win of the season in his last game.
Last season Bordeaux played football in Ligue 2, but gave up its professional club status and were relegated down to the fourth tier of French football after going into financial administration.
However, Carroll has revealed that the fallen giants maintained a huge appeal to him before he was convinced to join by head coach Bruno Irles.
Speaking to Foot Mercato, Carroll said: “I had the opportunity to do it. I had the chance to speak with the coach. I like the idea of this project to go back up to Ligue 1 and it’s something I wanted to do.
“When I spoke to the coach, I was very confident about what we could achieve here in Bordeaux. That’s probably the main reason why I signed here in the summer.
“Of course, it’s also a very big club with a huge fan base, great facilities and that’s something I want to be a part of…
“I don’t think I needed any convincing honestly. Bordeaux is a very big club and as soon as I had the opportunity to sign here, I did it.
“I was enthusiastic about trying to come and play here, I’m happy, even glad, to have done it.”
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When asked about the drop down from professional football to amateur, he said: “Not at all. It’s just football. No matter what level you play at, it’s still football. And it’s something I want to do.
“A few years ago, when I was out of contract and had no club, I used to play every week with my friends.
“We used to play 11-a-side games on Thursday nights. And playing football is something I’m going to continue to do as much as I can…
“Not at all. Football is football. I mean, there are obviously different pitches, but at the end of the day, it’s football.
“I’ve played on a lot of pitches in my career and it’s true that it’s not great when the pitches are not good quality. But I haven’t complained since I’ve been here.
“We have a fantastic training pitch. The stadium pitch is incredible. We’ve played away too and it was a decent pitch. I’m not complaining at all.”
Fans were loving the nine-cap England international’s response, with one saying: “He reeks of football.”
A second said: “Bravo, he exudes passion”, while a third said: “Top mentality of the player.”
Yeah, but I mean, I get paid to play football. I get paid to do what I love. And if I wasn’t a professional footballer, I would have played football anyway and I wouldn’t have gotten paid.
Andy Carroll
Another said: “Very good mentality, respect.”
While one added: “What a godsend for a player with his experience. A total star.”
He revealed that his friends and family were all “happy” for him and wanted him to enjoy playing football.
Carroll added that upon learning of his desire to join Bordeaux, they told him to “sign right away”.
However, Carroll has admitted that some of his team-mates did not understand his decision to make such a sudden drop down the divisions.
He added: “(Laughs) Yes, there are several players who have asked me what I was doing there and why.
Carroll reveals plans to keep playing for Bordeaux until he’s 40
ANDY CARROLL wants to keep playing until he hits 40 – and dreams of partnering his eldest boy up front.
The ex-Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham striker enjoyed a dream debut for Bordeaux with two goals to earn a draw with Chateaubriant.
And despite years of injury issues during his time in the Premier League, the nine-capped England international says he wants to continue “another five years until I’m 40”.
Carroll, father to sons Lucas, 14, Arlo, eight, and Wolf, five and two daughters, said: “My sons keep saying, ‘Oh, you should go into management’.
“But I’ll keep saying well, ‘hopefully, one day, you’re old enough that you can join me and be my strike partner in the same team playing with each other’.
“They are really good players. So that’s probably more my dream than retiring and doing something else.”
Read the full story by Gary Stonehouse HERE.
But I know why I signed here and I know it was the right decision. It’s a big club and I’ve said it before, but I want to be part of this adventure.
“And when I spoke to the coach, everything went exactly as I wanted.”
Despite his positive outlook on the situation, it has not been all rosy for him, with Carroll admitting that “everything was dark” as he struggled to battle injuries.
He said: “Yeah, but I mean, I get paid to play football. I get paid to do what I love. And if I wasn’t a professional footballer, I would have played football anyway and I wouldn’t have gotten paid.
“I’m grateful for the money I’ve earned in the past and still today, it allows me to continue playing football. That’s exactly what I wanted for myself. I just want to play.
“I’ve had a lot of injuries in my career, I’ve been on the bench and I’ve been a bit player on and off the pitch sometimes. Only playing the last ten minutes.
It was a really tough time in my life [at West Ham], really. It was a stressful time for me. I was down in the dumps, everything was dark. It was hard to get back up. I was just falling apart and making bad decisions and mistreatment and bad things. As a player, you just want to be out there and playing.
Andy Carroll
“I just want to finish my career playing as much as possible. And it’s not about money. It’s just about enjoying my life…
“It was a really tough time in my life [at West Ham], really. It was a stressful time for me. I was down in the dumps, everything was dark. It was hard to get back up.
“I was just falling apart and making bad decisions and mistreatment and bad things. It was just really tough. You know, as a player, you just want to be out there and playing.
“But sometimes you hear stories, people saying, ‘oh, he’s still injured’, ‘he should retire’ and things like that that are not nice.
“At that point, you’re in a hole, in your shell and you’re just trying to get out of it, because it can be dangerous.
“Luckily, I managed to get out of it and I had a more positive ending. So now I just love playing football.
“There has been a lot of press about my injuries and other things, and it is not helpful. Those who know me know that I did not want to be injured and I want to be on the pitch to help the team.
“But the press had been very negative with me saying that I did not want to be on the pitch and that I should leave the club. But for me, I have always been motivated by the idea of playing and being on the pitch.
“And maybe sometimes I was too motivated, I forced myself when I was probably not 100%. I collapsed. It is part of the things that you have to experience to learn. But I feel very good now.”
Carroll revealed that he was loving the “quiet” lifestyle in southwest France, having been “very well received” by a “great group of guys” in the dressing room.
Help for mental health
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@mind.org.uk or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.