Andy Carroll ‘playing 5D chess’ as former England star steals show on debut after dropping down to fourth tier
ANDY CARROLL has taken his first steps in becoming a club legend for Bordeaux after a stunning debut.
Carroll, 35, joined the iconic French team earlier this week – dropping down two divisions and taking a huge pay-cut to do so.
The nine-time England international was playing in the French second division with Amiens but chose to jump ship to Bordeaux for a new challenge.
Bordeaux are currently plying their trade in the FOURTH DIVISION of French football after being handed a double relegation in the wake of their bankruptcy.
But Carroll chose to take his experience down to the non-league outfit and earn a reported “minimum wage of £2,100” as a new challenge in the twilight of his career.
His vast experience of playing at the top level has already reared its head as he had a phenomenal debut, saving his side from an embarrassing defeat.
The veteran turned it on as Bordeaux trailed to Chateaubriant 2-0 and were in dire need of some attacking impotence.
The 72nd minute rolled around and Carroll got off the mark, a typically acrobatic finish that tucked into the bottom corner and sparked a comeback.
Just two minutes before the final whistle and Carroll popped up again, this time leaping head and shoulders above everyone else at a corner-kick and nodding a bullet header into the top corner.
The former Newcastle and Liverpool striker had single-handedly dragged his new club from the edge of defeat to leaving with a point.
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Fans are convinced that the towering centre-forward is beginning a journey to become a “club icon” at Bordeaux and can be the man to lead them back up the divisions.
On social media, one supporter wrote: “He’s playing 5D chess and we have front row seats.”
While another added: “This is probably the perfect twilight gig. Relatively undemanding football, fantastic weather and so many fans ready to make you a cult hero”.
A third posted: “Things we love to see!”
And a fourth gushed: “This is the redemption story of the season”.
Bordeaux are Carroll’s eighth club of his career which has seen him make over 400 appearances and score in excess of 100 goals.
His journeyman-like career has included stints at Liverpool, Newcastle, Reading and West Ham.