STEED Malbranque has shocked football by hanging up his boots in the week when Fulham signed three new players â including £10.6million Bryan Ruiz. The Whites hero for five years between 2001-06, and the one greeted with âSte-e-e-e-edâ by the Fulham faithful every time his name was announced, has stunned French club St Etienne by walking out on them less than two months after joining from Sunderland. Still only 31, Malbranque is understood to have rowed with his father over the contract negotiated by Malbranque senior, and begged his new team to be released from the deal. Sources close to St Etienne reckon his fatherâs interference throughout his career, including when he was at Fulham, came to a head this week. The source said: âWhen Steed saw and understood the real terms of his contract he decided enough was enough. âHe expected his father, of all people, to do a better job.â St Etienne coach Christophe Galtier added: "Steed came to see me to say that he was having personal problems. I saw a troubled guy and I'm worried about him." Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/lo...rement-decision-64767-29345021/#ixzz1WpCURUim
I think someone mentioned that on here earlier this week: I was very surprised and shocked because I still feel he has so much to offer.
A legend in my eyes. Saw him destroy us for Fulham in 2003 and to have the pleasure watching him in the shirt for the past few years has been a delight. Forget his scoring record, how many of you didn't get a taste of the shingles when he had the ball?
Somehow it does not quite ring true for me. I knew it had been mentioned earlier this week but the reason given for retirement seems very strange to me.
So he is now a free agent and can be signed out side the window. Why not bring him back on less money having banked the transfer fee?
read somewhere that his son has been diagnosed with cancer hence the retirement unsure how true or even where i read that tbh...
same story circulating the smb, very sad and my heart goes out to him, get well soon steed junior, my thoughts and prayers are with you
If the story about his son is true I take my hat off ti Steed for seeing what is really important in live. Putting family first, well done and I hope your son recovers.
if its true I would bring him and his family back, give him a squad role and look after hima nd his family because to me he is stil one of ours. Maybe I'm to soft to be a football chairman
Great servant for safc the ball control of messi...but the speed of my aunt jessie..great passer of the ball.but couldnt shoot straight if his life depended on it...if you gave him the ball on the half way line or wing surounded by six players he would show the calmness of james bond and nine times out of ten he would either beat them or get a good pass away.... do the same in the penalty box he turned into frank spencer.....a very good player but if he had that tiny bit extra.he would have given messi a run for his money..i will miss him i respect him and i wish him well
dannysimpson12 Danny Simpson Thoughts are with steed malbranque n his kid, met him a few times n hes a top guy! Seems likely to have some truth to it.
Danny Simpson just posted something about his thoughts being with Steed Malbranque and his kid, so the cancer thing would seem true to me. Wouldn't wish that on anyone (well except mass murderers). Hope his son gets better.
Top player! Shame he had to hang up his boots early but i guess this proves he's a top bloke too with his priorities right! I hope all turns out for the best.
