1 month ago
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Andy Carroll, the former Liverpool and England forward, has made a surprising move as both a new signing and an investor for National League club Dagenham and Redbridge.
The 36-year-old striker has wrapped up his time in France's fourth tier with Bordeaux to return to East London, a familiar territory from his days at West Ham. The former Premier League ace also played for Reading and West Brom in England, and spent time on loan at Preston North End, who Liverpool plays today, early in his career.
Carroll, who notched up nine appearances and two goals for the Three Lions, is perhaps best remembered for his then record-breaking $47 million (£35 million) transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool back in January 2011, shortly after Fernando Torres had moved from Anfield to Chelsea. No British player had signed for another domestic club for as much money at the time.
Despite the anticipation surrounding his arrival at Anfield, his stint was met with mixed fortunes, netting 11 times in 58 outings before switching to West Ham.
Upon signing for Dagenham, Carroll couldn't hide his excitement, remarking: "I'm really excited to get started with Dagenham. My kids thought I was signing for Chelsea — they'll be in for a shock. It's a fantastic location and close to my kids, they will be able to come and see me play."
He continued to share his joy about returning closer to home, saying: "I really enjoyed my time in Bordeaux but it's time for me to get settled with my family. I'm hoping my kids will bring their friends to see me play."
Not content with just playing, Carroll is also looking to make his mark off the pitch, expressing his ambition to engage with the club's management while still lacing up his boots.
He elaborated: "I didn't want to finish playing football and I'm really excited to get involved in the leadership side and be a player. I've got experience in seeing how clubs are run, of all levels. I think I can add value"
Dagenham sparked quite a buzz with their social media reveal, saying: "It's not every day that a club can announce a new investor, a new kit and a new star striker all in the same day, but this isn't just anyone. Andy Carroll is a Dagger!"
The big news comes alongside the announcement of the club's acquisition by a consortium featuring 'prominent Qatari investors' who have taken full control.
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Youseph Al Sharif steps in as interim chairman, joining forces with former Daggers captain Anwar Uddin in the consortium. Uddin shared his excitement: "I consider it an absolute privilege to return to the club after such a memorable spell as a player.
"I'm genuinely excited to reconnect with the fans and everyone associated with Dagenham and Redbridge, and to play a part in helping the club move firmly in the right direction."
Liverpool.com says: It's always great to see players who really love the game. Carroll doesn't need to still be playing at all but clearly wants to go on for as long as possible.
It didn't work for him at Liverpool but he seems like a solid pro. His inflated price tag didn't help and he was never going to be the kind of player that stylistically was likely to succeed at Anfield.
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