http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/29936924 Struggling League One side Leyton Orient have signed former Liverpool, Napoli and Sunderland full-back Andrea Dossena until the end of the season. The 33-year-old Italy international was a free agent after leaving the Black Cats at the end of last season. Dossena, who can also play in midfield, scored against Manchester United and Real Madrid while he was at Liverpool. He could make his debut for the O's in Saturday's FA Cup first-round fixture against Oldham. Dossena joined Liverpool for £7m in July 2008 and scored in the Reds' 4-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League in March 2009 and then again in their 4-1 away victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United. The Italian, who won 10 caps, joined Napoli in January 2010 before a spell at Sunderland in 2013-14. Orient are 20th in League One after only winning one of their last eight league games.
All credit to him. Hopefully its because he wants to carry on playing rather than retire after a career on the silly money. I always used to enjoy watching the aged stars drift down the divisions, pass on their experience.
I seem to remember that some time ago the FA floated an idea, or had a scheme, whereas players could train in alternative skills in readiness for life after their football playing days were over. Of course many of the top class players of today have no need of such a scheme as they are already wealthy and some have gone on to be coaches/managers and the overhyped football pundits. But many flounder after kicking a ball around for a few years, I don't need to elaborate on the life of a former revered England player in and out of rehab and the newspaper headlines but he is just one of many that seem to have nothing to turn to when the playing days are over. If you believe some of the media some players can hardly read or write so what happens to all the players, from all divisions incidentally, that have to hang up their boots whenever age or injury forces them from the football field? Was this FA thing a figment of my imagination or was it never put into practice if it did exist? I can only think back to the two goalscoring heros of my era Chilton/Waggstaff, Chris had a brief spell at coaching at Hull City I believe, after that I'm not sure. And the last time I saw Waggy was serving behind the bar in Waggy's Place in Hessle and I haven't a clue as to what all the rest of the team of that time went on to do after their playing days were over.
Theres a big push on in education at the moment to ensure that young people involved in football are nurtured academically as well as on the pitch. There are at least 4 kids in the school I work who go out on day release to play at Walsall, Baggies and BCFC but if their grades slip then we cut them off. They need to know that one injury can end it all so while they might not need to know algebra now they just might in 10 years when their an accountant. WBA have their own school now too. I think more and more clubs will move towards that model into the future; especially if Free Schools grow in popularity.
Isn't one of the reasons we've moved the academy to Bishop Burton, so that the youth lads can also attend lessons there? As for Dossena, he always looked like a League One player to me.
Are they learning to milk cows and feed pigs ? Or has the agricultural collage changed ? long time since i was there.
They now do courses in... Agriculture Animal Management Applied Science Art, Design and Fashion Business and Management Construction Environmental Studies Equine Floristry Food Foundation Studies Health & Social Care and Childcare Horticulture Land-Based Engineering Public Services Sport Tourism
OK fair enough, looks like they have expanded a bit. Edit. most of it is agriculture with a fancy name.
