What a blessed relief. It’s over.
Not the British football league season. I’ve quite enjoyed the SPL this year actually, and the English Premier League, despite the processions at the top for Celtic and Manchester United.
What I’m talking about is a new stage of the season that has been forced upon us the retirement season.
Super Sunday just past should have been renamed See you later Sunday.
David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, Phil Neville (possibly), Steve Harper (probably). Everywhere you looked somebody was milking their last applause at the weekend.
And it’s not as if a retirement is announced just a few days before it happens these days either.
Look at Carragher. He started the countdown back in February.
So we had Jamie’s last European game (which could also be branded Jamie’s last chance to win a trophy and Jamie’s last under-hit back-pass), Jamie’s last game against Manchester United, Jamie’s last derby with Everton, Jamie’s last day at Melwood, Jamie’s last interview with Sky, Jamie’s last press conference and Jamie’s last match. Forgive me if I’ve missed a significant milestone of the four-month farewell.
Nice lad, devoted club servant and excellent player. But let’s hope there’s no Scholes-esque comeback so we don’t have to endure it all again.
Wouldn’t it be great if someone just decides to stop playing this summer and doesn’t come back? The Eric Cantona way.
No crowd mosaics, no guards of honour, no home and away farewells, no clapping on the minute of a player’s squad number, and no speeches on the pitch. Just a career eulogised at the right time when it’s over.