Jermain Defoe has won his first career title. Defoe has been much travelled and much loved wherever he has played. At 38 years of age he has finally become a title winner with Rangers.
Jermain Defoe Wins First Title
The Long and Winding Road
From Charlton Athletic to rising through the ranks at West Ham United where he suffered heartache and relegation, Defoe has been a prolific striker but with little in the way of silverware to show for his efforts. Yet, at 38 he is still terrorising defences in the Scottish Premiership.
Defoe could have been forgiven for considering hanging up his boots after a lack of playing time at Bournemouth, but Steven Gerrard knew he still had plenty to offer and it was fitting that in the 88th minute against Aberdeen at Ibrox on Saturday 15 May, Defoe grabbed a goal to go along with his title winners medal.
Dedication
Whilst Defoe may have been a bit part player for Rangers, he has still shown fitness and strength and, more than that, has shown he is still dedicated to the game that he has adored for over 20 years, telling the official Rangers website: “I have dedicated my whole career and my whole life for these kinds of moments. I always knew it would happen at some point in my career and that is the thing that has kept me going to be honest. People always say what has kept you going and how do you stay motivated and it is for moments like this.”
Jermain Defoe Wins First Title, So What Next?
19 goals is a healthy return for any player in a season let alone one that could be assumed to be reaching his twilight years, but what comes next for the striker? His current deal with the Scottish Champions comes to end in June 2021 and one of his former clubs Sunderland could be in a position to sign him should they gain promotion.
Current boss Gerrard is keen to let Defoe make his own decision over what he does next and it is clear that his former England team mate has the utmost respect for him, saying: “He’s been a wonderful player. He’s had a wonderful career. To get him up here in the first place was something I was keen to do, because I knew he would help the group in the way he goes about his business. He’s a top professional.”
Whether Defoe goes on to continue his playing career or take a step into coaching and management is something that will be decided in the coming months, but one thing that is certain is that whatever he does decide, a club somewhere is going to get a superbly fit and hungry individual whose love for football shows no signs of abating.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
