Post by coachiolalufc on Jun 8, 2006 10:58:03 GMT -1
Veteran Everton goalkeeper Nigel Martyn has been forced to hang up his gloves because of an ankle injury.
The 39-year old shot-stopper needs an operation to pin a troublesome bone in his ankle, which has ruled him out of action since January.
The country's first £1 million goalkeeper had hoped to return to action at Goodison Park, but has now been forced to face facts.
"It was a decision based on being able to live a normal sort of life afterwards - that was the primary concern because it is a nasty bone to have a problem in," Martyn told the club's website.
"I had a follow up CT scan which was checking to see if the crack in the bone had healed any, which is what we needed at the time, but it clearly showed no healing
"It means I will have to have another operation to pin the bones back together."
Martyn's career was resurrected in September 2003 when Blues boss David Moyes plucked him from the Leeds United sidelines, a fact the former England international will not soon forget.
"I loved every minute of my time at Everton. I have a lot to be thankful for because I was languishing at Leeds at the time," he continued.
"I was out of favour at Elland Road because I would not go on a tour and so I will always be thankful to the manager for putting his faith in me and giving me another chance.
"To be able to play two and a half seasons was a big thing for me because it meant I could finish my career properly."
Martyn's final performance came in The Toffees' FA Cup fourth round draw with Chelsea at the turn of the year, which was appropriately his 100th game for Everton.
He notched up more than 500 league appearances and earned 23 international caps in a memorable professional career in the top flight of English football.
source: skysports.com
goodbye super nige!! he was a brilliant player for us
*cough*betterthanseaman*cough*
The 39-year old shot-stopper needs an operation to pin a troublesome bone in his ankle, which has ruled him out of action since January.
The country's first £1 million goalkeeper had hoped to return to action at Goodison Park, but has now been forced to face facts.
"It was a decision based on being able to live a normal sort of life afterwards - that was the primary concern because it is a nasty bone to have a problem in," Martyn told the club's website.
"I had a follow up CT scan which was checking to see if the crack in the bone had healed any, which is what we needed at the time, but it clearly showed no healing
"It means I will have to have another operation to pin the bones back together."
Martyn's career was resurrected in September 2003 when Blues boss David Moyes plucked him from the Leeds United sidelines, a fact the former England international will not soon forget.
"I loved every minute of my time at Everton. I have a lot to be thankful for because I was languishing at Leeds at the time," he continued.
"I was out of favour at Elland Road because I would not go on a tour and so I will always be thankful to the manager for putting his faith in me and giving me another chance.
"To be able to play two and a half seasons was a big thing for me because it meant I could finish my career properly."
Martyn's final performance came in The Toffees' FA Cup fourth round draw with Chelsea at the turn of the year, which was appropriately his 100th game for Everton.
He notched up more than 500 league appearances and earned 23 international caps in a memorable professional career in the top flight of English football.
source: skysports.com
goodbye super nige!! he was a brilliant player for us
*cough*betterthanseaman*cough*
