CAREY EYES UP A ROBINS RETURN
BRISTOL CITY legend Louis Carey hopes travelling the world will aid his football education once his playing days are over.
The Robins have released their all-time appearance record holder Carey, who turned out 646 times for the club after making his debut in October 1995.
And Carey acknowledges that while his tenure at City was a dream come true, the next chapter of his life could be even more exciting – although he is hoping to expand his playing career by at least one more year.
“If someone had told me when I was a kid that I’d play 646 times for Bristol City, lead the team out at Wembley and gain promotion with them, I would not have believed them,” said Carey, who is now on the lookout for a new club.
“It is only really sinking in now that it is coming to an end here.
“In the next year I want to travel the world and visit other clubs who I feel get things right: Barcelona, Ajax, and many other sporting organisations around the world.
“I also want to go to the slums of India and give back. I want to try and get a bit of normality back in my life because over the years football has been very materialistic.
“Who knows, I may even end up with a role back at Bristol City in the future.”
Carey broke John Ateyo’s appearance record on December 29 and manager Steve Cotterill explained it wasn’t easy ending the legendary defender’s tenure with the Robins.
“We’ve had a good chat and it’s really tough to be the one to end his Bristol City career,” said Cotterill, who has also released defender Liam Fontaine and experienced midfielders Marvin Elliott and Stephen Pearson.
“I’m delighted he got the all-time appearance record. That was always going to happen – I couldn’t let it not happen.
“For his tremendous years of service, he fully deserves that accolade and I can’t see it ever being broken.”