History is likely to view Andy Carroll's career with a mix of bewilderment and curiosity. Was he a terrifyingly effective £35m goal scorer, or a chronically injury-prone underachiever? The epitome of the English Big Man, or the great 'what might have been' of the Capello/Hodgson England eras? A wasted talent whose international caps were more a reflection of the lack of alternatives than his own merit? Whatever the final verdict, the 35-year-old is determined to write a few more chapters in his story, having recently signed with struggling French club Bordeaux, who are currently in the fourth-tier Championnat National 2 due to bankruptcy. So far, Carroll's stint with Les Girondins has been undeniably successful. In his debut against Châteaubriant, he scored in the 72nd and 88th minutes to help his team salvage a draw from a 2-0 deficit. He followed this up with another brace against Saumur, his 84th-minute winner securing a 2-1 victory—their first of the season. His four goals already match his second most-prolific campaign since 2016-17.
There has been some surprise that a financially troubled club is investing in a veteran who, not long ago, was earning £80,000 a week. "My salary is lower than the rent I pay," Carroll told L’Equipe. "If I joined Bordeaux, it's not for the money. I've had offers to play in Saudi Arabia, but I wasn't interested... I'd love to keep playing every Saturday until I'm 40, regardless of the level. My goal is to become a LeBron James, meaning playing on the same team as my eldest son, Lucas, who is 14. It would be wonderful to experience that, in Bordeaux or elsewhere." However, playing for the cash-strapped club does come with its challenges. "Bus travel is not easy," he added, struggling with a stubborn armrest. "The other day, it took us six hours to get to Saumur, and during the journey, I stretched out in the middle aisle. It's a change from the 40-minute private jet flights we used to take in the Premier League." Fortunately, there will be no need for road travel this weekend, though a brief tram ride on Bordeaux's extensive network might be in order—Les Girondins face Avranches at home on Saturday.
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