Sat Apr 23, 2022 7:10 am
Sol Bamba: I may retire if Boro make play-offs
Sol Bamba believes that reaching the play-offs with Middlesbrough might be the perfect way to bow out, however he insists no decision has been made regarding his future just yet.
The 37-year-old turned out a man-of-the-match performance for Boro in their clash with Bournemouth over Easter, proving he can still cut it when called upon. He has made 26 appearances for the club in all competitions.
The Ivorian, who is a player-coach up at the Riverside Stadium, told TeessideLive : "It felt great. I just love to be out there. I work hard behind the scenes. The whole team and myself personally because you never know when you’re going to be called upon. That’s the case. I’m 37. I know the game and how it works so I keep myself fit and we train hard too so when I need to play in the game, I do the business.
“I’m the first one to say that I will stop before the football stop me like if I can’t move anymore. I will be the first to put my hands up and say it’s not for me. It’s not the case at the minute. I feel good and my body leaves me alone. Of course, I can’t play every game, I know that. With me wanting to go into coaching as well, the gaffer has been unbelievable with me learning under him and doing a couple of sessions behind the scene when I can. When my body says stop, I will stop."
With four games to go, Boro are three points off the play-offs. One of the games they have remaining, of course, is Cardiff City next Wednesday. When asked what it would mean to reach the play-offs with Chris Wilder's side, he added: “It would be massive. I may stop on that. I said earlier, my body keeps me going and I feel good but I don’t think I can finish without a high so if we can do it, for the team it would be huge but I think this team deserve it.
“For me personally, it would be massive. I don’t want to go back to what I’ve been through because I move forward but I think personally for me and for my family, it would be huge."