Rohan Ricketts discusses his unique career path that has taken him to Ecuador via Moldova and Hungary.
Rohan Ricketts came through the youth system at Arsenal before moving to north London rivals Tottenham where he made 30 Premier League appearances. Further spells at Wolves and Barnsley followed before the midfielder made a surprise move to Major League Soccer side FC Toronto. It began a journey that has taken Ricketts to Diosgyori VTK in Hungary, Dacia Chisinau in Moldova, SV Wilhelmshaven in Germany, Dempo in India and now Deportivo Quevedo in Ecuador. Still following? Adam Bate caught up with the man himself to shed some light on a unique footballing adventure...
The adventure started for you when you were 25 and moved to FC Toronto in MLS. How was that experience?
It was a great experience. A lot of people said that I was too young to be going abroad but it's just in my nature to explore new opportunities. I fell in love with life in Toronto. I just loved the city from the first day there. It was cold but I loved it as it was something different. There were 20,000 at every game and it felt like the place to be. It really was a joy to be there. John Carver, who is now the assistant manager at Newcastle, was a good coach too - I loved him and he loved me.
I'm not one of those people who never wants to experience new things. So much has happened to me because I allowed myself to go there to Toronto. I met my other half while I was out there; I've been involved in charities and done plenty of media work for ESPN. I'm certain none of that would have happened if I'd stayed in England.
Were you planning to come back to England when you left Toronto?
That was the plan. I left Toronto six to eight months before my contract ran out with a view to getting a good club in England. I was in great shape so was quite optimistic but the system has its own rules. Agents play their part and going to MLS had actually had a negative effect on my CV. They hadn't even been watching me.
You have to remember that MLS was pretty new then. It was not as respected as it is now. There's an island mentality in England and with the time-zone difference maybe I'd be the same. David Beckham has been there for years now so it's a bit different.
Was it a case of out of sight, out of mind?
I was affected by that. I came back expecting to get a Championship club or even a Premier League opportunity. But they were not sure about me. They'd rather take someone from League One or League Two than take me from Toronto.
I didn't want to go to League One or League Two either. It didn't suit me. If you put the likes of Cesc Fabregas or Jack Wilshere at a club like Tranmere then even they wouldn't be the same players. That's the reality. I'm not saying I'm in that bracket but it's a style thing.
It's tough for touch players. The only reason I existed as a footballer was because I had come through the system at Arsenal. It was a gift but also a curse. Young players are built for the Premier League but what happens when you leave? If you're not either massive or rapid then it's difficult.
Even so, going to play in Hungary and then Moldova seems a bit out of the blue. How did that come about?
I'd played with a Hungarian goalkeeper called Martin Fulop at Tottenham and his father remembered me. He made me an offer to go out there but they messed me around really. The experience was disastrous. In fact, both Hungary and Moldova were catastrophic.
The organisation was basic. In Moldova I
