Enock Mwepu Brighton
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton’s Enock Mwepu reveals his plans to stay in football #BHAFC

October 11, 2022
Enock Mwepu plans to remain in football after announcing his retirement as a player. The Albion midfielder has hung up his boots due to a concerns over a hereditary heart condition. He was a few weeks into his second season with the Seagulls after shining for RB Salzburg. Mwepu, 24, was a sporting hero to many back in Zambia and captained the national team. In a statement released today, he wrote: “A boy from a small Zambian township called Chambishi has some news to share. He stood strong to follow his dream of playing football at the highest level, and by the grace of God he lived his dream by reaching the Premier League. “Some dreams however come to an end, so it is with sadness I announce the need to hang up my boots because of medical advice I have received. This is however not the end of my involvement with football, I plan to stay involved in some capacity. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that supported me in my football journey, including my wife and family, my agent 12MAN, the Zambian FA, all my previous clubs, team-mates and coaches, and especially everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl insists on 35 year old Shane long continuing for another season #SAINTSFC

May 30, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl has insisted 35-year-old Shane Long can “keep on going in the summer”, despite his Saints contract coming to an end. He could yet sign renewed terms, but the Irishman looks set to exit St Mary’s after eight years with the club following the conclusion of his deal next month. The veteran forward has played 344 Premier League matches across his career, scoring 56 goals – although only one of those has come in the last two seasons. Long netted twice in 19 appearances across all competitions this campaign – in the FA Cup at Swansea City and versus Everton in the league. And Hasenhuttl thinks the forward can continue playing into next season, where he will turn 36. “From the physical side it is definitely possible for him to keep on going in the summer, definitely,” the Austrian told the Daily Echo. “He is very robust and when you are so quick, yeah you lose a little bit when you get older, but still quick enough for playing as a striker. It is no coincidence that he has played so many games in the Premier League.” Hasenhuttl, who retired from his role as a striker when he was almost 37, continued: “We speak about a different level when I stopped my game – not on this level, I never played on this level, so I do not want to compare him to me. “But I know how it feels when you come to 35, 36 or 37 as a player. I must say that I absolutely love this game to play, and that is the reason why I tried to play for as long as possible. “I think he does the same, he loves this game, he loves to compete, he loves to come here and train every day. It is something extraordinarily beautiful. “He still wants to learn, wants to get better and still wants to improve his game. This is the most beautiful job - better than being a manager!” A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl reveals his intention to switch off from coaching career in 2024 #SAINTSFC

February 8, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl has told German media that he intends to end his coaching career at the expiration of his Saints contract in 2024. The 54-year-old signed a four-year contract to remain with the St Mary’s outfit in June 2020. If he was to fulfil that contract, he would have spent a total of five-and-a-half years as manager of Saints in the Premier League. Speaking to Kicker, he reveals that his intention is to end his coaching career then - and he has told new owners Sport Republic. “That’s the plan and I hope I have the strength to go through with it,” he said. “I told the new owners that I wanted to put the club on a very healthy footing over the next two-and-a-half years, but that was it.” New Saints owners Sport Republic (Pic: Stuart Martin) Explaining his surprise decision, the Austrian added: “Five and a half years in the Premier League, that’s a lot of energy, regardless of job satisfaction. “I can’t imagine that I want to do anything else in the coaching job after that. I achieved my big goal of getting into the Premier League. “In the motherland of football, being able to coach what is perhaps the best league in the world is a privilege that I am aware of every day.” The former international striker, Hasenhuttl, has also managed the likes of Ingolstadt and Red Bull Leipzig in a touchline career that started back in 2007. Hasenhuttl was appointed Saints manager in December 2018 on a two-and-a-half-year deal, succeeding Mark Hughes when they were in the bottom three and successfully steering them to safety.
Premier League Museum Transfers
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Sam McQueen details mental struggle of his injury purgatory #SAINTSFC

January 4, 2022
BRAVE Sam McQueen detailed the mental struggle he went through whilst battling his physical injuries - admitting that it “ruined me for a certain amount of time". An ACL tear suffered whilst playing on loan for Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup eventually proved too much to overcome, with multiple setbacks leading to around nine surgeries since McQueen suffered the injury in October 2018. This week the Saints academy product announced his retirement after a three-and-a-half year fight to return to competitive football. In a frank and open interview with Saints’ website, the Southampton-born 26-year-old said: “I didn't maintain a positive attitude. “I became quite depressed and (had) probably six months of counselling which was much needed and helped me a little bit, but I still wasn't able really to be there for my family. “Open and happy to say now that that I wasn't capable at the time to deal with those things. “I thought I was capable to (do) anything. “I thought I was Superman when I was playing football and playing Premier League football. “I was completely unaware that I had no capability to deal with any emotional or personal traumas. “It ruined me for a certain amount of time, and it's taken three years for my mind to start to process it, and start to feel like myself a bit again. “(It’s) new - it’s a new challenge. I’ve not had anything like this before.” Whilst suffering an ACL tear can keep players out for up to 12 months in some cases, it is also associated with a host of complications that can delay or even prevent a return to the field. McQueen’s recovery was constantly hampered, eventually forcing him to retire from the game he loves. He continued: “(It was) Bad luck. Bad timing. Bad management from me. “Week before Christmas, I started getting hot flushes, found out had an infection. So I got rushed up to London to have some emergency surgery to try and flush the infection out of my knee. “I found out the infection had come back, same infection, so I had to rush up to London again. “Had to redo the whole operation, taking ligaments in my other leg to try and use to put the knee right there. “I had that last surgery in July 2019, so from November 2018, to July 2019, it was probably about nine different surgeries I had.”
Southampton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton player Sam McQueen makes an incredibly tough decision to retire #SAINTSFC

January 2, 2022
EMOTIONAL Sam McQueen announced the “incredibly tough decision” to retire from football aged 26. The Saints defender had not played a competitive fixture since October 2018, during a loan spell at Middlesbrough, where he suffered a serious knee problem. Having ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament, screws inserted during surgery to help repair the problem became infected, providing a huge setback to the former England under-21 international. And McQueen has confirmed his time as a player in the professional game has come to an end. He told the Saints website: “This has been such an incredibly tough decision to make, as I so desperately want to play football again, but I have to do what is right for me and for my family. “The amount of time I’ve had not on my feet and not running has caused my body to de-condition to such a level that now when I try to join in any parts of training I continually get muscle tears in certain areas and my knee’s not able to cope, so I was advised I wouldn’t be able to play football for much longer if I did manage to get back fit.” Most expected the Saints academy graduate to be among the list of players released by the club last summer upon the expiry of his contract, but his name was not included. Instead, he was handed a new short-term deal which allowed him to continue training at the club. He was even listed in the club's Premier League squad list for the first half of the season. McQueen added: “The club have been fantastic and the support I have had around me has been amazing. “I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my time at the club, and that has been nice. It’s made me realise how much a part of my life this club is and how much it means to me. “It’s been like a father figure in a way. It’s given me guidance, it’s given me things to try to achieve, and it’s pushed me and encouraged me.” Born in Southampton, McQueen signed for Saints’ academy at the age of eight. He went on to make 29 appearances at senior level for the south coast side, including three in the Europa League. “I’m very proud of the things that I have achieved here,” he added. “I’m sad that there wasn’t more, but later in life I’ll be able to look back on the memories I have, of playing against Inter Milan, being around a Premier League team and travelling with the squad and the passion of the fans at the games. “Now I’m going to try to make the most of the rest of the life that I’ve got. The world’s my oyster. I can do anything I want really, and I’m excited about that. “I’m sad that football might end, but the options out there in the world I’m starting to open my mind up to and looking forward to it, just trying to cherish it with my family, partner and children.”
Aston Villa
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brighton, Bournemouth, Aston Villa man #TommyElphick retires #AVFC #BHAFC #BOURNEMOUTHFC

August 19, 2021
The centre-back has confirmed to The Argus he has retired after a 16-year career. He is set to move into a coaching role within the EFL. Elphick, from Woodingdean, made his name with the Seagulls after coming through the youth set-up under the guidance of Dean Wilkins. He went on to captain Bournemouth and Aston Villa but suffered a serious knee injury while with his last club Huddersfield. He was the first Albion player to sign a contract taking him into the club’s arrival at the Amex. But a ruptured Achilles on the final day of the 2010-11 season meant that dream was never fulfilled. He told The Argus: “My mind is still fresh but my body is very tired. “I’m nine operations in now and I’m fed up of sitting on a physio's bench, to be honest. “I still have a huge desire for football and a love for football and a hunger for football. “I shall be staying in the game. I need to be out on the grass coaching and having some sort of influence day to day. “I’m looking forward to that new chapter. “I’ve always thought my life in football would be 30 or 40 years rather than a 15 or 20-year playing career. “I’ve got to the stage now where I’d rather be a young coach than an old, declining player.” In an extensive interview with The Argus, Elphick - who turns 34 next month - has spoken about his career and the influence of coaches and senior players at Albion. He reveals the moment he thought his career was over while with the Seagulls. He gives his specialist insight into the challenge facing Shane Duffy and looks at the evolving challenges of the centre-back role. BRIGHTON PREPARE TO FACE WATFORD And, as Albion prepare for a League Cup trip to Cardiff, he recalls how the same fixture 14 years ago kick-started his career. The interview will appear in The Argus and online tomorrow.
craig cathcart glenn murray
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Former Brighton striker #GlennMurray felt it was the right time to retire #BHAFC

June 1, 2021
Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray felt it was the right time to hang up his boots. Read more: Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray announces his retirement But Murray was content with the decision to end his playing career. He said: “I feel as though the time is right and I wanted to retire at a good level. “I’ve had a lot of good years in the game, but this seems the right time to call it a day. “I am getting off the football merry-go-round, the structure of being told what to do for 20 years. "I am looking forward to making some of my own decisions I suppose!" But Murray now looks to set to do more media work rather than go into coaching. He said: “I have got a lot of options, there are a lot of things going on in the background. "The media work is something I want to pursue and I am looking forward to starting a new chapter of my life. “Give me six months, a year and I might miss it so much that I want to give back to the club in some capacity as a coach. "But at the moment that isn’t the route I am going down.”