Jean-Pierre Papin comes out of retirement

[soggy biscuit]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/90/france/2009/01/05/1043540/jean-pierre-papin-comes-out-of-retirement

1991 Ballon d'Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin has opted to pull his playing boots back on at the ripe old age of 45.

The ex-Bordeaux and Marseille legend, who last kicked a ball in the 1998-99 season, will don the colours of Facture-Biganos Boiens, who play at the tenth level of French football.

So, which ex proffesional would you want playing for your local ametuer team?

Taking into cosideration the state of the pitches and the ref's cards generally going AWOL for the most of the season I would opt for Julian Dicks turning out for the Sunday team. At 41 he could still move around (or hop around at least) and would surely revel in the amount of 'hospital balls' that make an appearance at that level.

[TBM]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/90/france/2009/01/05/1043540/jean-pierre-papin-comes-out-of-retirement

1991 Ballon d'Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin has opted to pull his playing boots back on at the ripe old age of 45.

The ex-Bordeaux and Marseille legend, who last kicked a ball in the 1998-99 season, will don the colours of Facture-Biganos Boiens, who play at the tenth level of French football.

So, which ex proffesional would you want playing for your local ametuer team?

Taking into cosideration the state of the pitches and the ref's cards generally going AWOL for the most of the season I would opt for Julian Dicks turning out for the Sunday team. At 41 he could still move around (or hop around at least) and would surely revel in the amount of 'hospital balls' that make an appearance at that level.

Vinny Jones

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Paulo Di-Canio or Zinedine Zidane?

[Huntley & Palmer]

Richard Gough or John Pemberton

[cmonurz]

Brian Kilcline, Jeremy Goss or Tony Daley.

[rabidbee]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing Zidane turn out for Bracknell Town, that would be funny.

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Paulo Di-Canio or Zinedine Zidane?

If anyone watched that rubbish match they do between England and the Rest Of the World, in which the teams include both ex-professionals and celebrities, they'll know that Di-Canio would still tear up lower league football without great difficulty.

As for Zidane, he retired in 2006 but was still absolutely awesome in the World Cup before his quite heroic head-butt in the final. I'd go as far as saying he's probably the best footballer of my generation thus far and his ability and strength on the ball is pretty much unrivalled.

[Alan Partridge]

Joey Beauchamp

[rabidbee]

Has anyone watched the Zidane DVD (scored by Mogwai), and is it worth it?

[Harry Carry]

Frode Grodas

[Seal]

1994 world cup winner Mauro Silva regularly turns out for my bro's team....in an Islington Five a side league.

He is still ridiculously good.

[Row Z Royal]

Joey Beauchamp

I've told you before - make it happen for Hobnob.

Harwell can swing.

[Baines]

Peter Beardsley.

[TheMaraudingDog]

Eric.

[chandog]

alan shearer

[FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT]

Can i second Paulo Di Canio? yes? Good.

[handbags_harris]

Tomas Brolin
Paul McGrath
Charlie George
John Barnes
Carlton Palmer
Les Sealey....oh

[papereyes]

Brian Kilcline, Jeremy Goss or Tony Daley.

I've seen Killer play at a low level and think he'd genuinely struggle to get into fatties. What he had in his day was pace and strength and now he doesn't. He seemed to kick the ball by getting his leg ready and then jumping at it.

On the other hand, I've also seen Keown training a bunch of my mates. Over 100 m, he still beats most of them. That's pretty scary.

On a last note, one of the gardeners at a different college was (apparently) a reserve keeper for Brentford and other small London teams in the 70s. No idea what the name was but he used to turn out for the college second team if they were short of numbers. Stuck to his line but was still surprisingly agile.

[papereyes]

Tomas Brolin
Paul McGrath
Charlie George
John Barnes
Carlton Palmer
Les Sealey....oh

I, and I suspect you, have seen Barnes play post-retirement.

Steve Davis and Jimmy Five-Bellies looked better.

[Wax Jacket]

Trevor Morley. For the showers afterwards.