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
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