James McClean has confirmed where he wants to finish his career, and in truth it comes as no real surprise. He also says he'd love to manage the club.
James McClean bleeds Derry. He's famed for turning up to train with Derry City, his old club, even after he made the breakthrough with Sunderland in the Premier League. He helps out people from his hometown whenever he can, using his wealth to reach out. And he has spoken eloquently and truthfully about why being from the part of Derry he was reared in prevents him wearing a poppy.
So it's no surprise that Derry is where McClean intends to kick his last ball as a professional footballer.
Speaking to RTE Radio's Sunday Sport programme (via the42.ie), McClean said:
Derry is where I started and that’s where I would like to end my career...It’s a club that holds a special place in my heart. On the day I left Derry City to join Sunderland I said it’s the place I want to end my career.
Hopefully they’ll have me.
And the West Bromwich Albion winger said that he would some day love to become manager of Derry City. He has heavily criticised the current manager of the Candystripes, Kenny Shiels, for saying that the Republic of Ireland side are "England's reserves", but this doesn't stop McClean dreaming of one day following in Shiels' footsteps.
To be manager of my hometown club means a lot to me. I’d be liar if I said it was something that didn’t interest me.
These quotes from McClean just confirm that he is a homebird at heart, deeply proud of his roots. The kid in the Creggan estate booting a ball around the streets has never left him, and it probably never will.
