Prize guy Defoe does not want Swansong to be sad
‘I’D LIKE TO GO OUT IN STYLE’
JERMAIN Defoe wants to go out on a high this weekend in what he admits will be an emotional final game at the Stadium of Light.
Defoe picked up the Supporters’ Player of the Year Award this week after winning the accolade for a second successive season and says he has a ‘special relationship’ with the supporters on Wearside.
Yet his 15 goals this term have not been enough to spare Sunderland relegation and that descent into the Championship triggers a clause in Defoe’s contract which allows him to leave for nothing this summer – with the 34-year-old keen to prolong his top-flight career as long as possible.
Sunderland face Swansea City in their last home fixture of the season on Saturday and that will be Defoe’s farewell appearance at the Stadium of Light, the Wearsiders rounding off their season with trips to Arsenal and Chelsea.
Defoe, who has emerged as a shock target for Turkish side Antalyaspor. said: “We don’t know exactly what is going on but I think it is well documented I am a free agent this summer.
“It is a difficult situation, it is going to be emotional.
“You never know in football, I remember when I left Tottenham it was hard because of the relationship I had with the fans - it was a decision I had to make for football reasons. I went and I came back.
“For the next three games I am going to give everything I can and if it turns out to be my last home game I want to show the fans I appreciate them, every sung they have song, every minute they have supported the team, all the fans.”
Defoe was presented with his Player of the Year award at the Stadium of Light, the Young Player of the Year award going to rising star goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Defoe added: “It is special, voted for by the fans and everyone knows I have a special relationship with them.
“I want to thank them for voting for me.
“From day one at this club all I have wanted to do is score goals and give something back. I feel like I have done that.
“There are mixed feelings. I am happy I won it but the season did not work out how I had hoped.”
The former Spurs and West Ham man will be remembered fondly on Wearside when he moves on and Defoe says he will be a regular visitor to the club even after he has hung up his boots.
He said: “Even when I have stopped playing I would always like to come back and watch games, help the club in any way I can really, to give something back to the younger lads coming through.
“It is a special place, the fans are unbelievable.
“Every player who plays for this club says the same, it will be hard to go somewhere else and find fans like this.”
Defoe ended his 10-game goal drought last Saturday when he scored in injury-time to seal a 2-0 win at Hull City.
The England striker’s celebrations were muted, Defoe saying that was partly because of the circumstances following relegation.
He added: “I am happy I scored the goal but you want it to mean something, which is probably why I was a little subdued.
“I was tired as well, it has been a long season. I was still disappointed about relegation.”
Sunderland’s win at Hull came too late for their relegation battle but it did at least show the Black Cats are keen to finish a sorry campaign as strongly as possible.