How many Spanish internationals play in the Leagues other than La Liga? How many French internationals play in the Leagues other than Ligue 1? With the likes of Fernando Torres, Santi Cazorla, Karim Benzema, Frank Ribery and David Silva, the list of players is stupendous. Although some players are destined to play in the local Leagues like the players who play for Barcelona and Bayern Munich, there are many fish out of the tank.
While that’s the case in the other parts of Europe, English football is damn good at getting hold of their home grown players although there are/were a very few exceptions like Gary Linekar, Chris Waddle and David Beckham in the past and present.
At the moment, there are not many English players who play in countries outside of England not to mention a very few who play under not-so-cool circumstances. Buttoning my lips, let’s analyse the different English players who play elsewhere.
Joey Barton
Joey Barton in MarseilleOut of all the English players playing outside of England, anyone can rightly say that the former Manchester City player is playing for the best team in the best League. Joey Barton was handed over a twelve match ban following the violent conduct at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the Premier League last season. Inevitably, Joey Barton moved to Fleetwood Town and practised with them till he was loaned to Marseille for one whole season. Joey Barton is now involved in just a handful of games for the French club owing to his injury. The English midfielder has claimed his determination to follow the likes of Chris Waddle and Gary Linekar through his official website to shine on the foreign soil.
David Beckham
David Beckham in LA GalaxyThe former Manchester United midfielder must be happy with the life in the United States of America as he has joined the likes of Thierry Henry in the Major League Soccer despite getting the wage bill of the same structure. Entering into the final phase of their professional careers, the likes of Robbie Keane, Thierry Henry and David Beckham are stealing the stage in the continent where football is called soccer. Although the former Manchester United midfielder now plays in one of the easiest Leagues on the planet, the off-field model does enough to raise the standard of Major League Soccer. It’s not a wonder at all as he once got invited for the party arranged by the President of United States, Barack Obama. The former Real Madrid midfielder was involved in a total of sixteen goals in twenty four appearances for Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012. Non-English soccer ground is not unfamiliar for the 37-year-old midfielder as he has earlier had stints with AC Milan and Real Madrid since his move from Red Devils in June, 2003.
Emile Heskey
Emile Heskey in Newcastle JetsWhat a surprise! Did anyone see that coming? Me neither. Following unsuccessful spells with multiple English clubs, the former England international’s career was put in question. There wasn’t a club to pick the physical striker as a free agent although there were claims that he had joined Ipswich Town which was later proved to be untrue. Then, it was Newcastle, not the team that plays the Tyne and Wear derby but the Australian outfit, Newcastle Jets. The transfer was more loved than the Robin van Persie transfer by the soccer fanatics but for a different reason. The former Liverpool striker has transformed himself into a goal machine in the Australian soil as he now averages a goal per match. The once-out-of-favour striker has scored a total of four goals in four appearances for the Australian club Newcastle Jets. He scores when he wants and that’s true indeed.
Notable Mentions
Scott Carson
Michael Mancienne
Dale Jennings
Gary Hooper
Simon Dawkins
John Rooney
Lewis Neal
Eddie Johnson
Dom Dwyer