Skipper Lewis hoping to see out rest of his career at Dons
IT took three years in the Aberdeen job for Derek McInnes to land the reliable, high-quality No 1 he craved. In every conceivable way, Joe Lewis has proved to be a keeper. Now i n his fifth season at Pittodrie and, at 33, entering what should be his prime, Lewis admits he would love to see out his career with the Dons.
He said: ‘I’d love to stay for the rest of my career.
‘It’s always difficult to make long-term plans in football but, at the moment, I am very happy.
‘I enjoy living here and I enjoy my football. Ideally, it would be great to stay.’
It’s doubtful Lewis would have envisaged such longevity when he arrived in the north east for signing talks in 2016.
As a youngster at Norwich, he had been tipped for the top and gained experience on loan at Stockport and Morecambe. He also represented England through the age levels, culminating in a call-up to Fabio Capello’s full squad for end-ofseason friendlies against the USA and Trinidad and Tobago in 2008.
By then he was at Peterborough United where he achieved back-toback promotions but a subsequent move to Cardiff City proved less fulfilling and he sought game time on loan at Blackpool and Fulham.
Available under freedom of contract after the expiry of his deal with the Welsh club, he wanted a place where he could play regularly. McInnes’s sales pitch sealed the deal.
‘The manager gave me clear directions about what he wanted from me,’ added Lewis.
‘Because of the way my career had gone, I hadn’t really built a relationship with a manager for a decent amount of time, so it was good to have his backing. I felt he had confidence in me from day one.
‘It was a chance to showcase my skills and I had a good start and won the supporters over, which is always big.
‘I got my game going quickly here and I have enjoyed it.’
Lewis has also relished the inherent stability at the club that has kept McInnes in situ for so long.
Regime change saw Stewart Milne hand the reins to new chairman Dave Cormack in 2019 but the transition was smooth.
The common cause that comes with playing in a one-club city has also aided Lewis’s sense of belonging.
‘This is a brilliant club, first and foremost,’ he says. ‘I’ve been at a few in my career, too many really, that aren’t well run and don’t have everyone from top to bottom pulling in the same direction.
‘You can see from the outside, and you can feel it as a player, everyone wants the same for Aberdeen.
‘There are no agendas or anything. There are no selfish ulterior motives.
‘Everyone just wants the best for the team and to have success on the pitch, which is what a club is for.
‘We have a lot of supporters at the club and everyone at the training ground and Pittodrie is desperate for us to do well.
‘It feels like it’s a team effort at Aberdeen and it gives you that confidence when you know everyone is doing their best for you.
‘That’s important because I haven’t always felt like that at my previous clubs, where there has been infighting and a lack of cohesion.
‘I also found my form here after not playing enough football for a spell. I had played at Blackpool on loan but didn’t enjoy it.
‘I played a few games for Fulham but found a new lease of life at Aberdeen.’
Made captain at the start of last season following Graeme Shinnie’s departure for Derby County, Lewis has countered the notion that goalies can’t lead from the back.
He’s also happy to challenge the stereotype of the greedy footballer.
Given his pedigree, it wouldn’t be too difficult to source a new club south of the border but he just isn’t interested.
Around the time he accepted the armband, Lewis signed a new five-year contract that takes him to the summer of 2024 and he wants to see it out.
‘Financially, you can look for more money somewhere else and a lot of players do that in their careers,’ he explained. ‘I have no problem with people trying to make as much as they can but there is more to it. At the end of every season, a lot of players will speak to their agents and have a chat about where they see themselves going.
‘I haven’t spoken to my agent for years now! Well, not meaningfully about going anywhere.
‘He realises that I am very settled here. When you have that and you enjoy your football, it’s very important.
‘At the end of your career you want to say you have enjoyed playing — not just scrapped around trying to make as much money as possible. ‘I really enjoy being at Aberdeen and, while you can’t make big plans for the future, I want it to continue.’
At the other end of the pitch today will be Allan McGregor, who coincidentally kept goal for opponents Hull City on Lewis’s sole Premier League appearance for Cardiff in 2013.
McGregor will turn 39 at the end of the month but his performances for the runaway league leaders provide encouragement for the Aberdeen skipper as he plans for the future.
‘He’s been fantastic and was a huge part of their win last week against Celtic,’ said Lewis. ‘It’s good to see goalkeepers get the plaudits for contributions like that.
‘I’m sure Allan’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper with a lot of experience. ‘At 38, he’s still got the agility which is something for all goalkeepers to look at. ‘It varies but mid-to-late thirties can be a keeper’ s pomp. Personally, I feel I’m better for my experience.’