After the furore of title wins, promotions and relegations subside, all that is left within the football community is uncertainty. Because whether you’re a journeyman footballer at the wrong end of League 2 or a certified Premier League millionaire, no one wants to be unemployed.
However, unemployment is currently a reality for a number of players up and down the country and below are just a few of the highest profile examples. Put them all together and what you have is a team that would stand a decent chance of surviving in the Premier League. But instead they are just a group of players trying to find themselves a job.
Goalkeepers
At various points last season Costel Pantilimon looked set to dethrone Joe Hart as Manchester City’s number one. Now he finds himself without a club, although probably not for long. Early after his release Pantilimon was linked with a move to goalkeeper-scarce Arsenal but so far all remains quiet on that front.
London’s job centre seems to be a bit of a hotbed for goalkeeping talent. Lukasz Fabianski was only available for a short while after leaving Arsenal, he was quickly snapped up by Swansea City. Experienced stopper Mark Schwarzer looks close to re-signing with Chelsea but nothing is in place yet. While Heurelho Gomes, who once cost Spurs £8million, is now looking to kick start his career at Watford.
Defenders
One of the most high profile defensive casualties is former Fulham captain Brede Hangeland. The Norwegian centre back has been in the news today after having his six years’ service for Fulham ended unceremoniously by e-mail. Showing that when people say that there is no loyalty in football anymore it most definitely works both ways.
But if Hangeland wanted to start for this hypothetical team of the unemployed he would face some competition from experienced former internationals like Joleon Lescott and Rio Ferdinand. Both without work after being released by Manchester’s City and United respectively.
Two of the world’s best left backs, Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra are also now left to find a club but should be able to do so without too much hardship. These two in particular are proof that no one in football can take their employment for granted.
Midfield
Certainly the biggest wave maker here is the news this week that Frank Lampard will not be re-signing with Chelsea, ending an incredible trophy-laden tenure with the Blues. Lampard’s next move will be watched with great interest, a move to the MLS has been muted. Gareth Barry and Joe Cole also have a healthy amount of England caps on their CV’s as they look for work.
Elsewhere there are established Premier League midfielders aplenty if any managers want to dip into the free transfer market. Steve Sidwell and Matthew Etherington are waiting patiently to find out where their careers will take them next. We could have had Marc Albrighton and Craig Gardner too but Leicester City and West Brom respectively beat us to them.
Forward
It was less than a year ago that enigmatic striker Nicklas Bendtner claimed that he could see himself playing for either Real Madrid or Barcelona. Now he will be able to put his theory to the test after being deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal, much to the delight/relief of Arsenal’s fans.
If he wants any advice on what to do next he can pick up the phone and ask Marouane Chamakh who was released by Arsenal last season. The Moroccan forward signed with Crystal Palace a year ago but after an up and down season he looks likely to be on the scrap heap again. His future with Palace uncertain after his contract came to an end.
Across London Samuel Eto’o, a big part of Chelsea’s much maligned striker force last season, finds himself looking for work. Despite linking himself with a move to Arsenal, Eto’o will probably find this summer that his days in Europe’s biggest games are over. He presumably does have his cash windfall from his lucrative time in Russia to fall back on but I’m sure he would rather not need it just yet.
As I said before, those are some of the most high profile examples. But footballers at all levels all over the country and beyond are now scrambling around trying to make sure that they have a home for next season.
Much gets said about the uncertainty of managers and their futures, but often the fickle nature of a playing career gets overlooked. Player power in some circumstances can seem unbreakable, but careers for players are short and when they get past 30 their options are limited. For all the privilege that comes from being a footballer, 30 is pretty young to have your career opportunities largely taken out of your hands.