Brede Hangeland has announced his retirement from professional football. please log in to view this image Today he said, "I've thought long and hard about my footballing career and I've decided its my time to end it. I'm announcing my retirement after a long time, and half of that time in this lovely country." And looking ahead to his career after football, Hangeland is optimist about what the future holds. "You can choose to be sad that its over or be happy that it happened," he said. "I feel so fortunate. I couldn't have dreamed of all the experiences and lessons in all the games I've played so its sad when it comes to an end. I think its important to know when the time is right to finish, and with the aches and pains, I'm 35-years old and I feel I can't do the job I want to do anymore so it's time to move on." One of Hangeland's memorable Premier League moments was heading in a dramatic injury-time equaliser against Manchester United in October 2010 just five minutes after scoring an own goal to put United in front. "We were playing Manchester United at home at Craven Cottage and there was me scoring a fine header, that was a lovely moment, back when I was good," he said. "That made it 2-2 because this for me personally was a strange game because just before that I scored an own goal to make it 2-1 for Manchester United. A roller-coaster of a game for myself." Hangeland spent almost six years at Fulham, playing in their Europa League final defeat to Atletico Madrid, ending the 2010-11 campaign as the club's second-highest goalscorer behind Clint Dempsey and captaining the club. His departure was acrimonious as he claimed to have been released by email, while also revealing manager Felix Magath once instructed him to place a block of cheese on a thigh injury instead of allowing the problem to be treated by the club's medical staff. The 35-year-old, who scored four goals in 91 appearances for Norway, made 238 appearances during his eight-year stay in London. Spending the first five years of his senior career at Norwegian club Viking, the 6ft 6in centre back was signed by Fulham in 2008 after two years at Copenhagen. Hangeland then moved to Crystal Palace in August 2014 on a free transfer and was released at the end of the 2015/16 season.
Top man, our Brede. I love his use of the expression, 'back when I was good'. A nice touch of humility there, acknowledging the way he has declined in recent years. I'm sure that if he had pursued it, he could have got a move to a bigger side. Unlike some of his team mates from those years he always seemed content to stay where he was rather than look for greener grass elsewhere. If we can find any more like him - on and off the pitch - we'll be doing all right. Good luck for the future, Brede, whatever you turn your hand to next.
Next job, defensive coach at FFC? One of the great representatives of our club, many thanks for that Sir.
Well, his dad worked for an oil company in Houston, Texas where Brede was born. Bit of trivia that and nothing to do with him having (or not) a degree. Don't believe he went to University though and if I remember one of those Club interview things correctly he only liked PE at school and hated Norwegian literature.
I do hope that khan gives Slavi the money to spend and bolster the team and not think this lots ok we will manage
Would be great to see him visit The Cottage - Remember him in the Hammy End, but Director's Box is OK
