Although stratospheric fee moves are widely remembered by global football fans, EFL club fans frequently mention their bargain agreements as the best business their team has ever done.
Given the amount of money in the game, teams are finding it more difficult to strike bargains. Unless you are a Premier League club, teams must work under a tight budget to be successful.
In the past, it was much easier to make a cheap signing, and for FLW’s Birmingham City analyst, Mike Gibbs, Stephen Carr has been the best value signing since he became a fan of the club.
Carr came out of retirement to lift the League Cup
Although there were other contenders for the Blues’ finest value acquisition, FLW’s Birmingham analyst, Mike, thought Carr’s League Cup victory made him the best of the bunch.
Mike told Football League World: “I believe there have been a few for me over the years.” Steve Bruce was one of the first players we signed on a free transfer, and he was fantastic for a few years.
“Damien Johnson, who we signed as club captain for a very small amount from Blackburn. I believed Barry Ferguson was a wonderful addition, as was Bowyer. Paul Robinson comes to mind as a one-month contract who ended up staying for a number of years, but I believe the one for me that
Stephen Carr is undoubtedly at the top of the list.
“Obviously, I came in on a short-term deal out of retirement, but ended up remaining for a few years and was very much an ever-present. I believe for most Blues supporters, obviously, being captain when we won the League Cup was probably one of the happiest days of our lives, therefore I think Stephen Carr is the best deal we’ve ever brought into the club.”
Carr’s Career Path to Wembley
Stephen Carr had an excellent career that lasted 20 years. The former Ireland international made his Tottenham Hotspur debut in 1993 and then played for Newcastle United and Birmingham before retiring in 2013.
Carr was born in Dublin and joined Spurs at the age of 15 after a successful trial. According to The Spurs Web, the right-back chose Tottenham over North London rivals Arsenal.
Carr talked highly of his reasons for picking Spurs: “When I joined, I had the option of playing for Spurs or Arsenal, but I felt Spurs was more welcoming. At the time, the training ground at Mill Hill was not as sophisticated as Arsenal’s training ground, but I just discovered it.
more realistic. I ended up staying for 12 years and enjoyed every minute of it. The right-back spent 12 years at White Hart Lane, where he won the first of his two League Cups in 1999.
Carr signed for Newcastle in 2004, for a reported £2 million. At St James’ Park, the Irishman expanded his European experience by competing in the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Carr retired from football in 2008, at the age of 32. The right-back departed Newcastle earlier this year after his contract expired but was unable to find a new club, prompting his retirement.
However, the Irishman wasn’t done yet. Carr’s retirement ended in 2008. and joined with Birmingham, where he spent four years. Little did he realise that he would win the League Cup for the second time in 2011. Carr retired from football in 2013, after making over 400 league appearances. The right-back also played 44 times for the Republic of Ireland.
Leave a Reply