Football has been a strange affair for Andy Carroll and the latest step for the one-time Newcastle United hero is Bordeaux.
That move to the French third tier team has certainly raised eyebrows and he’s been speaking to RMC Sport to explain why it’s come about.
35-year-old Carroll is now in the latter stages of his career after a varied journey that’s seen him start at Newcastle, move to Liverpool, join West Ham then Reading, West Brom before moving to France with Amiens in September 2023.
He stayed there for a year before heading to Bordeaux this summer as they tried to strengthen following their demotion down the leagues in France.
The decision to step down further in France after spending last season in the second level is certainly one that’s been questioned, with many having assumed that Carroll would have returned to England for the end of his career.
He is certainly likely to have had options on the table after his spells with Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham in the Premier League but instead he’s gone with Bordeaux on €3,500 a month wages.
Money isn’t a concern, though, according to the striker, who insists he just wants to enjoy his football and nothing else.
“Because it’s a great project…” he said when asked why he’d picked the club.
“Unfortunately, the club has fallen several divisions but it’s a big club and we’re going to try to get it back to where it should be.
“I loved my life in France last year and this opportunity has arrived. It’s a great club with great fans. The training grounds are exceptional, and I wanted to be part of this history. I adapted really well to French life in Amiens, I really loved my life there.
“You know, I just love football, and it was an opportunity to play for a big French club. It doesn’t matter what level you play at in the end. I like playing football and that’s what I came here to do. I really hope we can achieve our goals this season.
“To be honest, it even cost me money to go play for Girondins. But I play football and I’m just happy to play football. I want to be part of the history of this club and to be honest it’s not a question of money. In my career, it has never been about money.”
