Roger to call it quits at season's end
20 April: In a video interview with Ajax TV, Roger quite
unexpectedly announced that he will end his career as a
football player at the end of the current campaign. A
surprising announcement, as the Ajax midfielder is only 30
years old. When asked why he will call it a day, the
player came up with an answer that raised more questions
than it answered: "The world of football is no longer my
world."
The decision of Roger García Junyent (born Sabadell,
Spain, 15 December 1976) to call it quits comes very
shortly after Ajax's decision
to not extend the player's one year contract at the
Amsterdam ArenA. Which made the conclusion inevitable
that Roger's brief spell as an Ajacied has not become what
the player and Ajax were hoping for. Head-coach Henk
ten Cate always believed in the stylish midfielder: "Roger can
become a key player for this team," the Ajax boss said early in
the season. Not too long ago he added: "Potentially,
Roger is probably the best footballer in our
squad."
The truth is that Roger suffered from a few persistent
injuries this season, and when he was fit he didn't see much
action either. Roger, who played for FC Barcelona, 'Barcelona
B', Espanyol and Villarreal before moving to The Netherlands
and made his official Ajax début on 20 August 2006 in
the Eredivisie home game against RKC Waalwijk, had only 10
Eredivisie appearances so far (1 goal). He also had 2
appearances in the KNVB Cup and 4 in the UEFA Cup (1 goal).
16 appearances (frequently as a substitute) and 2 goals in
total... It's not much. The Ajax supporters will remember Roger
as a slightly phlegmatic, but very stylish and skilled
midfielder with a splitting thru-pass and a good eye for the
movement of his team-mates. It's good to know that the last
ever Ajax-1 player to wear the
mythical jersey number 14 of Johan Cruijff was
gracious player, a true football artist from
Catalunya, Cruijff's 'home away from home'. (MP)
Source: Ajax, RTV Noord-Holland
Related links
