I mentioned it in the Bundesliga thread, but it's worth a specific discussion.
Jonas Hector has signed a new contract at practically relegated FC Köln. Bayern and Dortmund were reportedly expressing keen interest (especially as he was going to cost next to nothing thanks to a relegation clause in his contract) as well as rumours of interest from Liverpool. Instead he fucks the relegation clause by signing a new contract til 2023 which will keep him at the club in the second tier (or at least get the club market value for him if they sell him).
In the age of players going on strike if they can't get a transfer, that's remarkable. It's conceivable that Hector might play a world cup final in Moscow against Brazil in mid-July, and his next game could be away to Sandhausen in the 2. Bundesliga.
I can't think of many examples of first-choice internationals of a leading national side deciding to play second-tier football.
Lukas Podolski staying with Köln after one of the many relegations is one example. Steve Bull staying at Wolves is a similar example, except he never got relegated or promoted with them, and wasn't a first-choice England player.
Did Man Utd 1974 or Spurs 1977 have anybody like that?
Jonas Hector has signed a new contract at practically relegated FC Köln. Bayern and Dortmund were reportedly expressing keen interest (especially as he was going to cost next to nothing thanks to a relegation clause in his contract) as well as rumours of interest from Liverpool. Instead he fucks the relegation clause by signing a new contract til 2023 which will keep him at the club in the second tier (or at least get the club market value for him if they sell him).
In the age of players going on strike if they can't get a transfer, that's remarkable. It's conceivable that Hector might play a world cup final in Moscow against Brazil in mid-July, and his next game could be away to Sandhausen in the 2. Bundesliga.
I can't think of many examples of first-choice internationals of a leading national side deciding to play second-tier football.
Lukas Podolski staying with Köln after one of the many relegations is one example. Steve Bull staying at Wolves is a similar example, except he never got relegated or promoted with them, and wasn't a first-choice England player.
Did Man Utd 1974 or Spurs 1977 have anybody like that?
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