Carlton Cole is preparing to go from capacity crowds at Celtic Park to playing in front of 11,000 fans at a multi-sports arena in California.
The England international striker, who doesn’t turn 33 until October, has joined Sacramento Republic in the United Soccer League – two tiers below Major League Soccer (well, at least it would be if the American league system had promotion and relegation).
Managed by former Cheltenham Town boss Paul Buckle, Sac Republic (as they are more commonly known) were only formed in 2012 and didn’t play their first competitive game until 2014, back when Cole was in the middle of his second West Ham spell.
BREAKING: Republic FC sign Premier League veteran @CarltonCole1.
Read: https://t.co/nYj7r42CCZ pic.twitter.com/V8tlERMZJ6
— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) August 9, 2016
Cole scored just once in his eight-month spell in Glasgow, though he also played a key part in a comical own goal on his debut.
He joins a Sac Republic team that won the USL Pro Playoffs in their inaugural season, before being eliminated by LA Galaxy’s second string (the brilliantly-nicknamed ‘Los Dos’) last season.
They currently sit fourth in the USL Western Conference, and boast stars such as Chris Christian and Tommy Thompson, neither of whom are Football Manager regens despite it certainly looking that way.
The response from fans has been positive negative confused.
@MartyStrong88 @CarltonCole1 as what?
— Críostiór Dubhthaigh (@0dubthaigh) August 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/diordenimfIow/status/763116948867551232
