Once one of the biggest transfers in the Premier League, Andy Carroll is now enjoying life in France at Amiens in Ligue 2, where he is under contract until 2025.
A surprising move for a player who was the star of the show back in his Newcastle United days, which eventually led to his €41m transfer to Merseyside in 2011.
His six years at West Ham now behind him, he left Reading in September of last year to head to Amiens, where he has three goals in 23 appearances and has found happiness, as he explained to L’Equipe.
The French newspaper went to find him and ask him about his time in France to date, which he is making the most of, even if his children have stayed in England, and keeps following his beloved Newcastle at a distance.
Carroll said: “There are some good pubs that I enjoy watching football in. I’ve watched Champions League matches there, especially when Newcastle were playing. There’s nothing here I don’t like.”
Born in Gateshead, Andy Carroll stated his career with Newcastle, playing for them all the way through to 2011.
While he has featured more for West Ham in his career (by just eight games), he did play 134 times for the Magpies in his career, scoring 34 goals and assisting another 26.
As for what he wants to do going forward, he said: “You know, it’s funny you should ask that question. I’ve just had breakfast with my wife. She asked me the same question: ‘After the contract, what’s your plan?’
“And my plan is to continue playing. Obviously, I’d like to have another year at Amiens. If not, I’ll look for an opportunity to play elsewhere. For the moment, I’m not looking to retire. I love playing football.”