Peter Odemwingie | Nigerian Slap

29:07Peter Odemwingie:I love it when a player has words for himself. He wants to earn the money. He wants to score beat records. All that is fine. but disrespect for me for anyone no no chance so that's how it works with me you can be the craziest guy you can just don't disrespect people do your thing you know i've seen crazy people in my life many times in football we'll know we know how it is um but that like respect needs to stay uh there was one remark but uh that just showed the division saying this french so they divided our dressing room to the French and this, go tell those French things. So Lukaku is French speaking, myself, Moulombou, Abou Meite was the second season, Marc-Antoine Fortuné.

29:53Peter Odemwingie:So, but we are close to each other in the dressing room and sometimes we speak French because it's just natural. I miss France also, I speak French, we speak a little bit. So it's like, why are you now referring to anyone by their language like and it came from a one coach even so yeah bringing it back to still roy and i'm a happy guy by nature it's you know i have this thing i'm content with whatever is in front of me and uh sometimes maybe i'm start to think maybe people think these things come easy to me like i you know i'm a fast player i run score i smile but don't look at my smile look at my yardages I cover per match.

30:42Peter Odemwingie:Look at my efforts. Look at my story. You know, the doctor will tell you how many times he had to give me, you know, some anesthetics to play games. Like, look at all of that, which are facts. So I don't know what, you know, will make, like, Roy think, oh, he don't want to push himself. It's fucking none of your business, Roy, either, is it? He's crazy, yeah. You know what I mean? Fuck off, Roy. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? You've got your England job, just fucking go and crack on with that. And in England, when Raheem Sterling came to him once and said, Gaffa, can I rest this game? You don't know what's going on in this guy's life, behind the scenes, or mental health.

31:22Peter Odemwingie:You see, when Pogba came out once and said, people would be like, how can you be a Man United player? I have helped struggle mentally to have motivation. But you have players that struggle sometimes. So then Roy took it public. He said, how can this guy be 20 years old? England, he has a chance to play for England and he's saying he's tired. But this is a young guy that they put the whole world on the shoulder, Liverpool and then Brendan Rodgers had to come in to support him publicly, saying Roy shouldn't do that publicly. So if anything, maybe I see who was your best coach? My best coach ever was Claude Puel.

32:01But I would say, Roy was decent. He's a good speaker. he could make players look for that three points. I said, but same time, how he deals with situations for me personally. I think Wye's on the shit list, isn't he? Get him on. Get him on. Wye's on the shit list. He is an old man. He has a few more years to repent.

32:28That's why I'm calling him out. It's good to get the background on Wye you wanted to leave. Yeah, that's important.

32:35Peter Odemwingie:Because the people are more important to me than anyone else because the fans, they don't deserve this. They kind of, you know, in shock, like what's happening? You know, we support Peter so much when he arrived from Moscow with that drama. Throughout, we sing his songs all the time. You know, how can he like just turn his back on us like that? But I won't turn it back on the club and the fans ever. Because I tried to keep it all inside. and the QPR thing, this is another thing in terms of business. When the offer came, firstly, Dan didn't inform me. But I told him six months ago, if any offer comes in, just inform me.

33:15Peter Odemwingie:He didn't inform me. So then, a few days later, we're waiting still. They're not telling me anything. Then I see Sky Sports. Harry gives an interview saying, yeah, we're interested in the wing. We want the striker. So then, obviously, Dan has to tell me now. He goes, yeah, Pete, there's the offer. You don't want to go there, though. I said, Dan, you know this for six months now. I told you I need something new. I need to leave. I don't like it here. Although I'm doing my job still. I was on five goals then. Scored a win against Chelsea. Scored two against Southampton. That's the one match that probably was the last straw, as they say.

33:59Peter Odemwingie:I scored two goals against Southampton at home. we win 2-0, they give me the man of the match. But after that game, I didn't start the next game. And for me, it's like, it's not natural. You have a guy who scored two goals, man of the match, run, sucks off. The second goal I scored, I sprinted from 18-yard box to connect with the cross from Shane Long on the counter. That speaks of a player with desire to play. So a player like this, you're not going to tell him why he's not starting the next game? Okay, that's your style, no problem. Next game we play, we win Chelsea 2-1. We're doing well. But then I don't want to make any drama.

34:40I just want...

34:42Peter Odemwingie:Then January came. Okay, now you guys have to do something. I go to the chairman. I say, chairman, there's an offer here. I've already said to Dan. So I try to keep the drama away from public, from the fans. You're still doing your stuff on the pitch. You've still got your head down, even though you want to leave. Exactly. I said, Chairman, can you give me a price for next summer? I will forget about QPR now. If you just say to me, summer, come, this is the figure. If you really want to go, you can go. That's all I wanted. Not to really leave so that I know I will be set free from these feelings.

35:22You're still willing to give another five months?

35:24Peter Odemwingie:Yeah, I'm most happy to give another five months. and I would have been in double figures still with the rotation, happy, live in good terms with the club. What happened between us, the big picture is still more important than whatever. But the chairman refused to give a price. In my head, I said, that makes sense. You guys can do this to a player. I'm 32. Your manager was publicly saying, I don't play through pain, injury, this, that. since they gave him contract, we can't get anything out of him. I said, is this the player you are trying to sell still at 32 with one year contract to go? I said, but nobody will offer me contract if they read what Roy said about me.

36:10Peter Odemwingie:There's little chance at 32 to have anything decent. So I said, you can't have it both ways. It's either he is this or he is that. I never had a public apology. I never had anything, you know, fans used to write me on Twitter, the West Brom fans, yeah, you're acting like a prima donna now, you don't want to play, commitment, and I'm having like a blown-up knee still in full training. I'm saying, no, no, I'll be fit for next. I'm already ready to play this weekend, and that is just part of it. You know, I could handle that. You know, I'm a guy with a good heart. I forgive easily, I move on. But then when the players' one happened, this one happened, the fans gave me stick unjustfully.

36:50Peter Odemwingie:I said, no, I've had enough here. that I respect myself enough to say out. But even at that, I still try to make it as civilised as possible. Did you ever think about kicking footballs and all that in training? No, no. Proper kicking off. No, no, no. It's not my nature. I just heard that things shouldn't be like this, but to go hurt someone, no. I lost my cool once in a pre-season friendly in France. the guy had a like a knee surgery after so after that day I said I hate friendly games I'm not going I'm not jumping in anybody's knees with my studs I learned the lesson you know so although they were kind of bullying us it was a French team playing against like a La Louvire small Belgian team and they were like being a bit bullish we were avoiding tackles and I'm like not having this one there was a 50-50 ball and I went a bit yeah and I heard after he had the surgery not a major one but obviously I regretted it and after that I tried to avoid precincts in friendlies even that get hot you know so yeah that's kind of the story behind it but same time great times in West Brom so what we need to finish it off yeah yeah at what point do you think Fuck me, I'm going to have to go back.

38:21Peter Odemwingie:So, yeah, we talk about it a lot, because now I play guitar songs, and boys are asking, what songs were you playing in the car when you were driving home? I say, Acon, Lonely.

38:38Peter Odemwingie:Take me home, take me home. I tell you. So, yeah, it was not easy. I come in the morning, I arrive at the training ground. Who gave you the news that it wasn't happening? Well, you could read. You could see it. Like, we are outside now, as people would have expected me to be outside, waiting. But, yeah, if you look at it, the only thing is cameras. If I am around the corner, but on the phone with Harry or the chief exec, it doesn't change much. or they come to the place where we are, round the corner, it's still the same thing. There's not really much in it. Do you have to pay for parking as well?

39:23Because that would be... That would be a bit of a coffee in the neck as that, wouldn't it? You got the barrier off. Harry, who do I put this petrol receipt into?

39:32Peter Odemwingie:That's it. That's it. So... But the thing is, there is a lot of people don't know. So that night, obviously when the clocks go, I can smell heat. I know it's not going to be pretty next weeks, months. One of the agents, Barry, Mike Trudetan, he goes, he understood. But he will never say it public. He understood. He said, tomorrow I will go put my license to the FA. Because that's how it should be. Like, what's this happening here? Somebody has to give account for this. He says these words, I will submit my license tomorrow. but the next morning he calls Dharmesh in Sky. He goes, no. But he's right in a way because the information we gave him with Ed is this is what West Brom proposed.

40:22Peter Odemwingie:We came and told you they wanted the F4.2 million or whatever it is. I said I would go on a lesser salary. QPR can just remove that from my salary and give to West Brom. So to make it that extra bit they wanted to fund Hoylet's salary. So he was angry that he was close to making the deal happen. And here, the son reports this, that he was evicted from his house, that he has serious financial problems. There is an article, but nobody wants to spin it. This is Macintosh. Yeah, Macintosh. So nobody wants to spin it. That amongst Pete's team, there was a desperate agent who needed money because he has kids to feed, he has a thing.

41:08Peter Odemwingie:It's in the newspapers. Son reports it. Yeah, but nobody wants to go there. Yeah, that's another thing that is... But for me today, I see it as this is just how press works. They want a story, but they don't want to look into... Because the story is big enough to dig a little bit into it. So although part of me says, who cares? I just live my life. Life is good. Was it awkward for you with, you know, you've talked about those fractions, there was obviously some lads that you weren't getting on with in the dressing room. Yeah. That must have been awkward coming back in. Were they chirping? Yeah, but at the same time, there are guys I do get along with, you know.

41:54I say, you know, there's division. I have, you know, senior players, Mulumbu, Sharna, others. Bronte actually, Chris is, you know, I respect him how he handled the situation. Then after, because he's stuck between what the public see, I as a captain have to address it. Stephen Reid made some comments. But no, life just went on because it's still about football. Then Steve Clarke had the chance to fix it. And that is give Peter some playing time. Next game I don't play, next game I don't play, next game I don't play. So this is the point where I might be kicking footballs now. yeah but the

42:33Peter Odemwingie:deadline's gone I know but still fucking cause bollocks you're not playing anywhere yeah the footballs I was kicking was Twitter so I go on Twitter I'm like is this what they left me here for not to even play was it a negative response from the fans you know that first game back at the oh they sang they sang the song and that was my first ever game my son was in the stadium he was just born I even told my wife don't come he will be toxic but there's a situation where you have a legend Goran Popov was my teammate he was sitting in the players area and then the Brummie and Birmingham Road and they start to sing there's only one greedy bastard not quite the song that you want to no no no from I just can't get enough to there's only one greedy bastard thankfully my son at a few months he doesn't understand but then goran stands up he's a big lad you know my big hands and he's telling them to shut up like keep quiet like you know got your back yeah yeah let because i was just warming up that warm-up wasn't pretty you know it was just a few days after that and obviously when they're singing that song i'm like wow in my head i'm like they only work with the information they have.

43:54Peter Odemwingie:They only see what they saw, you know, these articles from Roy, then I want to leave suddenly, then all this. They only see what they see and I don't blame West Brom fans for their reaction because they won't know behind the story stuff, behind the scenes, yeah. We're gonna have a quick break with a message from one company, would you like it to be? I think I'd like it to be NordVPN, please. If that's all right with you two. It's fine for me. Is it? Oh, brilliant. Our favourites. Nord VPN. If you're not using it, what are you doing? Tell you what it is good for as well now with these new laws.

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46:44Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for. From a browse to a bike ride, this summer, find more on Facebook. From your perspectives, because not knowing how a transfer works, what mistake has Pete made? They're just going too early. No mistake whatsoever. I don't think there's anything wrong because he's at the West Brom training ground and he's being told the deal is going to happen. And if that's deadline, yeah, 100%. On deadline day, believe you or me, there'll be people up and down the country driving. Oh yeah, of course.

47:25Peter Odemwingie:There are players in other countries on that day just waiting because, okay, here's the thing. Roy was somehow involved in this drama, which is a silly twist, right? He's giving bad reference to them for me and it will have to do with something to do with injuries, which means I might need extra MRIs. I might need some physios to look at me and test me on runs, side runs, change directions. So there are a few hours left. I have also a situation with work permit because then I was still a foreign player on a work permit in the UK. Yeah, so there are documents that needs to be sorted. That's why it was actually right to go and sort all this out quickly.

48:13Peter Odemwingie:Let this be done. Go do your MRIs, do your medicals, check with the lawyers, the immigration status. So everything is sorted, just what Cardiff did for me on the final day, because I moved to Cardiff also in a crazy situation where the deal wasn't done. mine went last in the whole system the FA said one more minute it would have been done you wouldn't have done it and the agent who was Rob Seagal then was considered a super agent he already announced on Sky in the afternoon that the deal is done clubs are happy Peter is happy but West Brom wanted me to sign some document I won't be talking about this whole story put West Brom in bad light somehow but I already gave those interviews to Birmingham Mail most of everything I said to you here I've giving it to it.

49:01Peter Odemwingie:So that deal even nearly collapsed as well. My move to Cardiff. I bet you parked around the corner though, didn't you? You must have parked around the corner. No, this time they allowed me. They even put my name on the car park and everywhere I went, it was just saying, Pete, you do what you want. You allowed that. But be serious, after that situation, you must have been like, is it done? That's what happened in Stoke. So Stoke City, I was the last to announce that I'm a Stoke City player now because kenwin jones was going to cardiff and i'm being extra careful this time i'm like i even gave it a couple of days to sink in i said i'm not announcing it kenwin jones has announced his arrival if cardiff i said i'm gonna wait not because the clubs have sorted it out this but i'm gonna wait for the immigration to sign off my papers that i'm the work permit is legit because they said no waiting for another sabotage from any corner so i waited to everything was done then i announced i'm now stoke city player because it's a swap deal because obviously hoylett and me didn't work out but this time it worked out hence stoke city sing the song and we swapped him for a useless joe all respect to him is a good player the strong uh always wanted the bigger striker than with Fraser to play in this traditional 4-4-2.

50:25Peter Odemwingie:And to be honest, the first thing I saw when I saw you guys, I'm like, welcome to British football. And two weeks ago, I was on a UFA B license, yeah, because I played in Stoke, big guys, crouchy, you know, short cross, big guys. And they were arguing about this play back from the back, do all this tiki-taka. I said, what is this nonsense? I said old school launch the ball up there 4-4-2 they were first laughing and then they started making a case for it I said why small team you don't have the quality you're trying to play tiki-taka I said just kick it as far as you can climb up and play do whatever you can as far as you can so yeah that's the tactics last one for me on that whole thing who do you blame if you could blame one person in particular or one club party Hodgson West Brom agents, QPR, who would you pin the blame on?

51:23I think everyone played a part. I think if Chairman was wise, at least after six months, they would have taken into account, okay, this guy knocked on the door six months before, he wants out, you know, scoring double figures, playing well. He gave us six months to consider his complaint, right? So maybe after six months is worth looking into it. I think Churchill has a nice saying. If you say it once, they don't listen. You say it twice, they don't listen. You say you smash, break everything that's in front of you on the table. And that's what happened. So they didn't go wise about it because for the chairman to just say, okay, here's what we can sell you for this summer.

52:08If that's the case, give me a price for the summer. And that whole window is leaving me out the window. He had the chance to do it. Steve, as a coach, even when I came back, maybe he could have fixed it. But let's not go back off fixing. Just what happened in QPR. Obviously, the QPR side,

52:28Peter Odemwingie:they are trying to make dribble, like they're doing some skillful moves too to make it happen, which is normal. Before I came to West Brom, West Brom also did that through agents. I think all parts, but mainly probably it will be agents because... If everything was behind the cameras, nobody will know nothing. Were QPR influenced by what Hodgson said, do you think? Or was that under... What he was trying to say to me as we were driving there, but I think it was guilt-tripping, because he was about to set me up in front of cameras. Because as we were driving there, halfway on the highway, a call comes in, in the car, I pick it up.

53:12Peter Odemwingie:Barry's offering us to go to Sky Studios. I said, mate, that's childish. where do you want to go? I'll start speaking in Sky, you know. So I closed that. So I don't want to be in front of Sky cameras. So we stopped and start speaking. So another thing is Dan need to, you know, answer my call, answer a text and speak to me. Yeah. But I have emails proven. I've already put them public last year a couple of times, but no press wants to pick on it. And they follow my TikTok, they follow my Instagram. Is there Dan Ashworth writing to at seven in the writing to Eddie of Holden Motion, it's a nightmare, Hoylet won't come.

53:52Peter Odemwingie:Still on the phone, on a conference call, still trying to sort it. But why is it a nightmare? If it became a nightmare, but we didn't discuss that, it wasn't an agreement that it's a swap deal. So that word nightmare speaks for itself. Because, oh, it's a nightmare. Why is it a nightmare? We didn't talk about it. And if that was the case, I shouldn't be angry. I would say, okay, if Hoylet cannot make it, well, that's what our agreement was. There's no deal. But Eddie replies him, it was never about Junior Hoylet. It wasn't a swap. It was a straight deal. You asked for this money. I got you the money.

54:31Peter Odemwingie:And he said, it's a effing good deal. I have written emails both from Dan to him. But I wish Dan communicated with me. I would never have ended up there. If Dan says to me, this is the situation. I would just say to him, mate, tomorrow morning you will have a Nigerian slap. Is that better? It's like a British one? It's a special one. Oh, it's a special one. Very special.

54:59Peter Odemwingie:Angle would have sorted that between us, that he let me down, whatever. Life goes on. I just had a son who was born. You know, life goes on. But I could deal with that, you know, with the players that I said goodbye to. not with the whole country watching a grown-up man just turn up on somebody's doorstep saying he wants to leave here now. Before we put it to bed obviously the song you greedy bastard yeah was the contract was it I don't think it were a money move as such but would you have been on better money at QPR no no so it was nothing to do with the money at all no no all the the background with the Lance?

55:42Peter Odemwingie:Already that time West Brom used to put out it was on Sky Sports Peter has offer from Alain Dubai Qatar I had crazy offers during all that time never considered them I was in Stoke already even older after the World Cup they give me offers from there I don't consider them I said I still have a year contract in Premier League play in this environment you want me to quit and go to play in Asia said no I still feel I have it you know but then this is things that happen when people read about you coach speaking about you and injuries at that after 30 it's not helping you know so but I knew uh the reason why also West Brom want to keep me because they know for a 32 year old I'm pretty fast still healthy that I actually was injured you know uh the the injury with Roy where we fell out I couldn't bend my knee to 10 degrees without pain lots of pain something happened because we lost the game against Liverpool 2-0 he was so angry Monday he puts a session and he was angry so everybody start to play hard and I like it you know George Thorne and Mulumbo they are my friends but they sandwiched me we went 50-50 into a ball you know because he was sucked from Liverpool right I understand why he's angry but they took it to a bit far too far and when the article came out said to Roy I said is that don't you think that's too much he said it's the press they were pushing the buttons it's them so he blamed the press then next day a semi-apology came out that I should take it as a compliment that is so needed by his coach I said if you compliment compliment your wife for the She made you yesterday like that.

57:32Peter Odemwingie:Don't give me compliments like this. I said, we footballers, we deal with enough from people, because social media now, we are exposed and we are humans. You know, it hurt me when people... You don't need your manager sticking the ori and all. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And there was one West Brom fan wrote, leave my darling club, you this. And I think that was also important. So fans need to know what they write to players. They need to be careful because that actually, yeah, was another straw that said, okay, Hugo's going to have the fight now. That will be it. With all that drama, that was just that little drop was needed.

58:14Peter Odemwingie:Okay. And I'm like, all right, then. I will give you, grant you your wishes. Did you reply to that tweet as well with them words? Not that one. Your wishes granted. I've blocked you. It's a great button to block one, isn't it? But they are on block now. Because I'm back with peace with the club, you know, everything, you know, the sour part, I think, is gone, most of it, because people had time to look into it. Because sometimes I do Q &As in environments like this with West Brom fans. And I do say to them, no, there was a bit of a drama behind the scenes. Some of it they saw, because they will be discussing and say, oh, why did that?

58:49Peter Odemwingie:that looks like they had a bit of a thing there, you know. So I gave a bit of an insight, not as deep as this now, but they understood. So I was invited to the club to be given this cap in front of the whole stadium. I had to walk around. It's like a setup. It's like they set me up. That cap you've got on? My hat. I thought it was weird. Yeah. It was a cute one. Cute one with the traditional. Peaky Blindness type. So I looked like a Brummie boy proper. Walking the Brummie end, and then people, I could just see the true emotions. I could cry really now, could cry then. And they just remember the moments they were watching me play, scoring the zone.

59:38So it was a slower walk.

59:40Peter Odemwingie:Give you people hugs, walk, hug, you know. And it was just between the two halves. So I walked, they presented me my cap. So I actually applaud the West Brom side. The former players association play a role in this. They invite us to the stadiums now and then. It's not that I seek to justify myself in any way, but I feel like those people who want the situation being explained to them a bit, who are hurt, more than happy to tell you, mate, it's not that simple as it is. I wish maybe I held all my emotions and dealt with it and never happened. But life is, you know, I just, at the moment, I just was too angry, too disappointed or whatever.

1:00:21But I want people to know. Walk under the bridge. All forgiven amongst the fans now. They're more like times are healing and they appreciate the good times.

1:00:30Peter Odemwingie:Oh, yes, yes, for sure. And even at that crazy time, whenever I see a West Brom fan, no one will dare say anything like they can write. They don't want the old Nigerian slap, do they? Exactly. That's the problem. Fuck that. What do you want for them walking down West Brom? It's a tree. Knowing there is a Russian boy in me too, because lots of people forget. I wanted to obviously talk about that, your journey to West Brom, because it's some journey as well. Born in Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, Tashkent, former Soviet Union. My dad learned Russian in Moscow and Kishinev in Moldova. But it was too cold.

1:01:12He asked to be transferred somewhere warmer because Soviet Union was so big. So did he move from Nigeria? Yeah, he moved to be, he's a doctor. So he went to study in university, got scholarship. And then the first year he learned the language. Then it's minus 20, he has to deal with African man in Russia. You know, he asked to be transferred somewhere warmer. They said there is a space in the University of Tashmi, it's called Tashkent, Uzbekistan. So he moved there and my mom was growing up there that time. They met in university. So yeah, as it is, you know, they had to still stand up for the relationship to stand because, you know, it was communist then.

1:01:54But they are stubborn people both and they got married. Then they had two kids, finished university. then we left i was only one we left to nigeria my dad was a doctor in a football team called bendel insurance that's where julio sakawa came out of yakubo is from my town a few big names came out from there um so uh then my journey started yeah so i started watching footballers from early age my dad was like a doctor in the football team and that's how i got interested in football. Years after, we returned to Tashkent again. It's a very footballing nation. They just qualified for the World Cup, first time.

1:02:36Whilst playing in Nigeria, is your goal to get to Europe? Yes, yes. So that's when we now made a return again to Nigeria when I was 17. I was released by CSK Moscow because I was a late developer. That's why sometimes I make case to people, don't quit early, give it a couple of years more. But when we moved to Nigeria at 17, suddenly you know the Sunday we call it Nigerian food solid pounded yam with

1:03:05Peter Odemwingie:grass-fed beef and the slap yeah of course that's part of Nigerian way for you know for discipline on and off the pitch so just break that down a bit did you go back to Russia as within an academy as a young yes as a seven when I was seven we now moved back did your mum and dad move back yes yes Not immediately, but me, mum, sister went back. It was probably a bit better because there were academies there. They were that developed. So it's not like Nigeria. For youths, there's not much. Now there are academies, Pepsi academies, places to be in a professional environment. It's getting better. But then it's just school, play a little bit, and all those talents like you, Obofemi Martins, guys like this, they basically come from little level straight to Europe.

1:03:52So did your parents go back specifically for you to play football? Somehow, somehow I would say yes. I bet your sister were raging, weren't she? He's fucking freezing here. I don't want to fucking go there. Dad always wanted to go back home. And one day I was released from CSK Moscow as a Russian boy. What's expecting you at the age of 18 is either army or university. So you have to go either serve two years in the army, which most kids will not want to do, especially sportsmen, because they waste that two years. But if you are in CSK Moscow, that's why it's Central Sports Club of Army. So you go to the army for one, two days, say whatever you have to say, then go back to the club and you play the two years in the reserves.

1:04:43Or if you make it in the first team, they sign you off as you've done your service to the army. And then what have you not got enough?

1:05:18Are you on the phone? to go as well. Also to avoid being a teenager in Russia, you know, not to go partying and lose my way. So, and then you said, I'm happy. My mom said, yeah, she fancy a return too. So we all went back, not easy couple of years to settle in, change few cities. But then in the city I was, there was Tijani Babangida, Garbalawal, Amokachi, and Celestine Babayaro. So I started mingling around their houses, see them when they're off the season, that motivation to play for Nigeria. And you just go to their houses? Yeah, just turn up. There, yeah.

1:06:01Peter Odemwingie:I'm here to see Tijani, I want his Ajax shirt and his Nigerian shorts. It's becoming a bit of a theme with the old just turning up, isn't it? Luckily my mum was a doctor, she's a gynecologist, so she used to look after his sisters, you know, So who were you playing for in this period? Pepsi Academy in Kaduna. Then I made a move down south to where we were originally from. A year was in Lagos because there were these promises, take you to Europe, take you to Europe. Then I was like, nah, enough of promises. Let me go and start playing in Nigerian League. Were you getting paid for playing at this point?

1:06:40It was just under$100 a month, which was for me like, wow. You know, you can feed yourself now. They give you a sign-on bonus of like$500. My dad's engine knocked then. His Mercedes just spoiled. My first sign-on fee was to buy a new engine. I fixed this car.

1:07:00Peter Odemwingie:Not to go buy a few caps and Gucci shoes that time. But, yeah, it's a journey I did. I did Nigerian League. A lot of people in Nigeria thought I just was in Europe all my life, went to Belgium. No, I played in the local league, the troubles, the suffering that it comes with. I did it all. But I was scoring goals nearly every game in the league. And I got a call up to the senior national team. And nearly made the squad to World Cup 2002. And that's my first encounter with the British, with the England national team. It was in Korea, Japan. They took 26 plays, but registered 23. So, yeah, but I was with the squad.

1:07:43With the squad there, just much day I don't change. I was 21, 21, 22. Still$100 a month? Yes. So you went to the World Cup? Yeah, I went to the World Cup. $100 a month. Crazy story. I was home base. I haven't moved to Europe yet. Some experience. Billy Jennings was my former Western player, was my first agent. He was British. So before that, I trained a few trainings with Di Canio, Ferdinand, Canute. He just threw me in for a few days to train with the first team, just to see me in that environment. So I knew some of the boys. Then David James, I think, was still there. So when we were in Japan, Korea, the England team played Nigeria.

1:08:22So I'm still like a tourist, taking pictures with every player. David Simon, I was like, what? Is this the guys you play football against? That's scary. Big guys, you know, took pictures with James, Seaman, Scholes, like all of them. I was like a young boy, still$100 a month. I was seeing these guys in front of me, Batistuta, we had them in our Ortega, we had Argentina in the same group with England. Were there many who weren't playing abroad in the squad? All. Everyone were playing abroad? So you were the only Nigerian base player in the squad? Yeah, in the hole 26. And I nearly made it. The night before, something happened.

1:09:07They said, maybe I'm not ready. So they put someone else. But in the whole of preparation, they took two top scorers of Nigerian league. That coach was Nigerian. So he said, let's give chance to the local base as well, not only the foreign base. So they took the two top scorers, gave them a few games. They capped me quickly so that they make sure I'm reserved basically for Nigeria. But I happily did that, knowing in the back of my mind it's a decision to make. Roche is still a team I could play for. I grew up there. Big club, big country football-wise. The Arshavians, the Pavlyuchenkos, they have good squads as well.

1:09:47But I happily looked around JJ Okocha, Taribo West, Kano, all these guys. I'm like, yeah, this will be home for the next years in international football. So I happily did it, yeah. We're going to have a very quick break, gentlemen, to bring a message from Saley. What is Saley, Chris? What is Saley? But I'm glad you asked me, John. It's the eSIM that you just install on your phone, get on the Saley app, get the eSIM on your phone. Perfect for going abroad. I know you've used it recently, aren't you, Chris? I used it in Portugal, and I saved probably 10 times the amount that I would have paid for roaming, data roaming.

1:10:29because it can be like an hidden bloody cost yeah it's an hidden extra to you already in it wasn't relying on wi-fi yeah just straight on big thing ideal you take it for granted don't you that you can when we have our phones at home you can get internet wherever you want but then when you go abroad you've got them roaming charges as soon as you get to airport you're getting new sims or whatever none of that was silly just go into the app turn on your e-sim internet wherever you are it was very good highly recommend because i mean depending on how many is going everybody's got a phone haven't they if i go and all the way family there's six phones going yeah yeah good point so six times your roaming charges and all that and as well as that there is the extra web protection as well which keeps you secure no matter what you're browsing which is important oh is it You don't want people, especially abroad, you don't want people getting into your bank details and stuff like that.

1:11:28It'd be a nightmare getting, contacting your bank and everything. Yeah, so all you need to do is download the Saley app in the App Store, scan the QR code or click on the link in the description. Using the code COSH, get 15 % off your first purchase. That will pay for itself in a day. Yeah. Kids, you get home, oh my God. What have you lot been doing? Yeah, exactly. It's happened to me many, many times. Yeah, cost price a bloody holiday. I'd hang my hat on it. You won't be disappointed. Scan the QR code, link in the description, download the silly app in the App Store. Kukosh. Really forgot that then.

1:12:04Point. Point. Hey, Chicago. Class it up with Crocs. You know back to school is coming in fast. So why wait to find your new fave footwear? Step into a local Crocs store and step into your new look. Try it. Style it. Make it yours. Because the right pair doesn't just show up. It shows off. First day fits, handled. Walk out ready for whatever's next. Visit your nearest Croc store today. This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace. And there it was. The bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message. And it turned out the seller was super chatty. Kind of funny.

1:12:50and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for. From a browse to a bike ride, this summer, find more on Facebook.

1:13:08Was that your big break, the move to Belgium, or was it the move to Lille that you thought? The big break, no. First one was always the big break. Because I was in Anderlecht for a month and a half, which is rare, for someone to get a trial that lasted so long. And a few years ago, Vincent Kompany was on BBC Sport and he said something like that. He's never seen a player that score four goals in a preseason friendly and don't get a contract. So there was a game for Anderlecht. I played, I scored four goals. They could see I have a talent, but the coach and his assistant of the first team, they were not sure.

1:13:46Frankie Wercouterin was the legend of Belgian football, played World Cups and stuff. And Hugo Bross was the main coach. Hugo was saying, I want to keep him. Frankie was not sure we have these guys from Ajax who want to develop. They're the same type of players. So I don't get a contract. I get basically told no, which I'm used to. Then the reserve team coach calls Ariel Jacobs in La Louvier, it's a smaller team, saying there's this guy here. He's pretty good. They're not giving him a contract. Have a look at him for three days. So I go there, they said three days training with this team, they're looking for a right winger.

1:14:22Then I get there, I start smashing goals with my left. After the first session, the coach called me in, he goes, Yosivi says you're a right footer. I said, yeah, I am. He said, no, but you're a left footer. I said, no, I'm a right footer. We argued that back and forth. But he was convinced one training was enough for him. He said, okay, because he was looking for a right winger, really. So I played right wing that year, scored a few important goals for the club, cutting in, left foot shot, a lot that I did against Wolves here a couple of times. It's a trademark move of mine. I go both ways because I was two-footed.

1:14:58Then I signed my first contract there. That same week they sent me to play with the reserves to adapt to European football. I break my jaw on the first game in Europe. 1v1 with the goalkeeper. Somehow his knee ends up in my face. I fainted, I think. I woke up in the tunnel, something like that. Went next day, surgery, fixed the jaw. Two months, no playing, sipping gin and juice.

1:15:28Yeah, just soups for a couple of months. That's how European football welcomed me with a broken jaw. Yeah, I remember shoving chocolates there. So you could taste it. Turning it, yeah. Melting in my mouth slowly and watching my team play. Because then I got fit and that year ended up winning the Belgian League. So I won the Belgium FA Cup, which was a strange one. They start like that and we won the Belgian Cup. That was the first trophy and I thought, oh, this is the first of many. And never lifted the trophy after that, just medals. And were you okay living away from home? Yeah I kind of got used to it because when I got the CSK Moscow Academy thing I was 14 so I had to leave home then and I just had my three first guitar lessons and I had to leave.

1:16:25So 30 years after I picked up the guitar now I'm having lessons so left home. Have you seen the TikTok? Yeah now and then. Some jamming. Yeah, some blues. Still got the blues. And funny enough, Eric Clapton, I found out, was a big Baggies fan. Apparently he was born or grew up somewhere in the Midlands. And yeah, he's a West Brom fan. So I said, no wonder there was a pull for me towards blues and his style of play, B.B. King and co. Yeah, another dream, childhood dreams. I like chasing dreams. That's why the tailor-made. So two years at La Louvier La Louvier Yeah La Louvier And then Lille come in for you Yes so I scored three goals in AFCON So French football they follow African Nations Cup a lot So I made the squad but wasn't supposed to play much then we had a story with a couple of players going clubbing after we lost a game to Morocco the opening game of the AFCON we lose to Morocco 1-0 a few players still went clubbing you can research that I'm going Carnot Carnot looks like he likes to drink in a dance so two of them were strikers amongst those I was just gone there to make up the number, gain the experience, maybe come in a little bit because we had big players then.

1:17:58So they were sent home because they rocked up a bit late. I wouldn't have sent them home, to be honest, if I was the Federation. But Nigerian old school, discipline, whatever. During the Nations Cup, they sent three players home. That's stupid. Would that have been? Whatever they did, that was stupid because it's a whole tournament. You still have a whole tournament. They were not replaced by other players, which means the door was open for other players to play. Give you your opportunity. Yeah, then against South Africa, I was called as a sub just to come on. My first game, I came on in the 88th minute, 82, 84, two goals.

1:18:41Like, announced my arrival to international football in two minutes, two goals. And obviously Nigerian people, oh, this young kid, like this light-skinned boy, straight in their hearts. Then Lil noticed my performance there because we played against Mali and Cameroon because they follow the francophone countries quite a bit because it's easy for them to adapt. They arrive, they speak the language, you know, and then they get playing. But Lil got me, I struggled with the language. I met Claude Pierre last year and he was like, first year was so frustrating with you. I couldn't explain what I wanted you to do because he signed me as a right winger.

1:19:18Once I only played a couple of times as a striker for La Lovie, but he wanted to transform me into a striker. So he had to upheld the ball, we call it, like how to call for ball, like in zaggy style, stay on the shoulder. But I had this tendency to come short. I always want to play, make action on the wings. So he kind of worked on my game, on my finishing. And within one year, I was a different player. We made it to Champions League, played against Man United two years in a row. Who else was in that team, Peter? Who else was in that Lille team that we might have heard of? We had young Johan Cabai, Kevin Miralas, De Boucher, Stefan Lichtsteiner as well from Arsenal.

1:19:59Good young team, very mobile. We worked really, really hard all the time because our coach, that's how he was as a player. Heavy pre-season trainings, during the week, a lot of physical training. So we outrun many teams and with the little quality we had, we got goals. So we were flying second in the league, third the next year, Champions League games. We once beat Man United to knock them out of the group stages. Did you play? I came on for a few minutes, yeah. Asimovic scored in that game for us 1-0. Stade de France, they even gave us Stade de France to play because our stadium was small for such a match.

1:20:38Then we played, beat AC Milan once away. So great coach. I scored in that one, yeah. And Milan was my team growing up. Because in Russia, everybody thought I was from Holland. They're watching Ruud Gullit and all these guys. And because I stand out color-wise, they go, are you from Holland? I said, yeah. Ruud Gullit's cousin. I mean, I've never heard of Karl Puel when he got the Leicester job. But you're saying he was... Yeah, but before Leicester, he was in Southampton. He got into the final of the cup final. Still got the sack that year in the summer, but then he took the Leicester job. He did a good recruitment there as well, and they were flying after.

1:21:19So he knows a good player, very good player, very hardworking man himself in the gym with us, running, playing 2v2s even with us, having battles with Lichsteiner that time, like his attitude, yeah, it makes a difference for our performance. very lively on the touchline, every second, Ali, Ali, keep asking you to make effort after effort. Brought the best out of us. Was a good foundation for the rest of my career, that three years under him. Lokomotiv Moscow paid 10 million for you? Yeah, about that, yeah, yeah. That summer I had interest from Germany, big clubs, Italy, because I felt that time it was time to move on to bigger contracts and something new, because they were selling our key players that summer.

1:22:05because Lille was building a stadium. We were changing in like cabins, playing in Champions League, we're changing in like cabins with barely showers working, playing against the Roonies and the Gixies. I bet a lot of that. Yeah. So we were playing in a smaller stadium while they were building, but now they have one of the best facilities in Europe, training ground, stadium. So that summer, they were selling a few key players to Lyon and other places. And myself as well, I said, okay. Claude wasn't sure. He wanted me for one more year. Wasn't too happy that I wanted to leave. I said, no, it's time.

1:22:42Then the two offers on the table were Spartak Moscow and Lokomotiv. Lokomotiv guys just flew in by themselves. Flew in and it was on my birthday, 15th of July. Arrived, quick talk with the club saying they're happy to pay that. And then we had a meal. My youth coach that was in CSK Moscow then was a youth coach in Lokomotiv. then he called saying we're here and you want to go spartac because spartac were earlier first team to try and get me big club i would have happily played for them but yeah it was local i had to decide i chose locomotive they played on grass not synthetic pitch spartac are synthetic it was a return home kind of motherland my mom was there at that time aunties yeah familia because i speak perfect Russian language, you know, so I said, okay, spend time again with my classmates, because sometimes I go just during the little days, I'll go visit for a few days.

1:23:41All right, if there's no other offers, I'll take this. So one day was a strange move for people in Russia, they will always say, only money motivated, the contract was really good, and I will always say to people, what's wrong with money? If you can be paid, you're a footballer,

1:23:59Peter Odemwingie:go take the money. What's your business? So I don't knock off that part too, that is important, but I plan my life that way. Football was the priority. But then I'd done my knee in Stoke. I would have probably gone somewhere and get that final pay, but it didn't happen for me. So I came there and me again, being honest, they go like, is this press go? is this not a move backwards football-wise? I would say I could say that. But if you were a CSK Moscow graduate and you can play in Moscow derbies, we know how hot they were. Fireworks, you know, ultras, super intense. They had to have so much police to guide so they don't fight after the games because they will announce a place and they go fight.

1:24:48You know, like I remember how hot it is. Moscow derbies are very interesting. so I'm like well I've lived in Moscow I know how big these five clubs are Zenit, St. Petersburg is there Ruben, Kazan I said it's moved backwards a bit maybe but I still have plans to go to Europe which some clubs don't like to hear I said I'm not here forever I'll still leave you know Sorry Pete was it Europe in general or was the dream to play in England was that a thing for you? That's the thing Yeah it was and as a Nigerian you always get reminded every international match you come to when are you going to Premier League?

1:25:22When are you going to England? Because they showed the league on Super Sports Channel. They don't really show other leagues that much because it's in English language, the commentators. So they keep saying for a couple of years. And during my Moscow days, I was really hot in the national team, scoring goals, earned the ticket to the World Cup. Then I went to South Africa World Cup and that's when the interest from Birmingham City came and West Brom after that. So then, yeah, three years there, Yeah, we played in European Cops against Aberdeen once. I came down to the UK, still saw a bit of UK football, friendly games in Fulham Stadium with Nigeria.

1:25:56So I kept touch a bit with English football. Eventually, when the offers came, I only considered this one because there were a few interests from other places. Return to France, Greece. There was Panathinaikos, a big club too, playing Champions League. The league was not as strong. So I thought West Brom, although people were like, you're going to relegate. Nigerians were writing me. I said, don't worry about it. We're not. I will score goals. They'll be all right. So, yeah. And Nigerians have played there before. Was 10 million a lot for... Well, that's what... Was that like an outrageous... Like in Russia, was that like...

1:26:34I would say so. Yeah, it was. It did give me... Yeah, it did give reason to... It did give reason to hammer me when I wasn't performing to the fans. Pressure. Yeah, the pressure was there. But we played Europa League a few times. Against Aguero, Forlan, it was a scorer brace, I think. It was against Atletico Madrid. We still had a few nice games in Europe. It's just the last year that I was there, we didn't qualify for Europe. But otherwise, I played for Lokomotiv, but two years I had European Cup games to play in. Then on the third year, I was running to my final year. I said a return to Europe back because my ambitions as a player were still high.

1:27:17I need to make it. And all the West Brom fight was also still to have a chance for the big five in the UK because I was sure I have the talent for it. People said that there was interest. Without going to names, there was a couple of interests in big clubs here after the first season especially. but I was kind of warned by one agent who was in Arshavin's camp at the point that you are not in the hands of the easy man at West Brom but I didn't know what he's talking about what he really meant by it, not in a disrespectful way, but when a Russian person says not a simple guy which is a sign that I was like, okay maybe we'll see and eventually things happened that way that it wasn't easy to agree something with.

1:28:15Obviously, up until arriving at West Brom, you've played in Nigerian, Russian, French, Belgian dressing rooms. How different was an English dressing room in comparison? The players were bigger. yeah it's quality football there's training sessions were a bit more quality i would say you have to be on alert um because the physicality was there the tempo was there um much they of course very competitive premier league um the difference for a change that was it was english language but it took me a while to understand the different accents what did he just say?

1:29:01Peter Odemwingie:I thought I knew English but yeah it was great you know What about the humour? I mean what are you telling get to the is anybody cutting people's clothes up and oh yeah there is more of this in the UK I never saw that in Belgium France really a bit funny guys in France there's a bit more of banter in the UK with doing things like Did that take a bit of time to understand? Because we get people on here telling us all kinds of stories about people taking shits in wash bags and cutting people's clothes open, putting fishing cars and all that stuff. Yeah, it's more in the UK I noticed that, yeah, it's this banter thing.

1:29:43But it causes people to have a laugh. A laugh only makes the place a bit better. I'm not into a bit silly type jokes, I won't go far, but I appreciate a bit of banter, yeah.

1:29:58quick pause and play gentlemen to bring a special message from our bestest of friends o 'neill's love the hat by the way thank you and the by the way you know the kits i've seen that are over here in ireland they're all quality they're all like beautiful like really nice kits yeah but none better than the big dog oh yes that's the fella in it like we've said many many many many many many times if you if you've got your own team grassroots looking to sort yourself out with a kit get in touch with o 'neill's four to six weeks from design to delivery and it's not and when we say design you design you can design it yourself just the little details everything it's not like you're just turning out in a red shirt black shirt white stripes or whatever it's you can put the finer detail on as well can't you the quality is unbelievable like a work of art Do you know what's good as well?

1:30:53They're produced mainly in Ireland and Northern Ireland in the factories so it's locally produced as well it's not quicker for delivery quicker for delivery but the quality as well I'm not just saying it's good yeah it's good we've been in the O 'Neill shop today and there's some of the stuff well most of the stuff all of the stuff it's incredible as well as a link in the description if you want to get yourself involved with your own team we can't recommend getting your shirts from anywhere else my team one well man that's been absolutely buzzing all season if you look good you play good everybody exactly exactly so the links in the description get your get your order in for your team and also if you want to get yourself and under the cosh absolutely stunning ball all four of them that are available check Check them out.

1:31:48Hey Chicago, class it up with Crocs. You know back to school is coming in fast. So why wait to find your new fave footwear? Step into a local Crocs store and step into your new look. Try it, style it, make it yours. Because the right pair doesn't just show up, it shows off. First day fits, handled. Walk out ready for whatever's next. Visit your nearest Croc store today.

1:32:43This summer, find more on Facebook.

1:33:14and one of the guys yesterday said, well, at the end of the day, it's your job. He said, you hurt me, but it's your job. And it's something Baggy will be always happy about that day. It's like an ace. You just throw it on the table. If you want a drink. Can you just remember that act? Yeah, so... It's probably one of the most underrated derbies if you're outside of that bubble because I've seen... Was it the FA Cup game a couple of years ago when it was delayed. Yeah, it got so hot. Crowd trouble. But it's not just in my time. I think it's gone a bit way back. Yeah, it's hot. Are they all pretty tame to the Russian stuff though?

1:34:00The derbies over here, are they all pretty tame compared to the Russian stuff over there? Not anymore now, but oh yeah, of course. It used to be like crazy those years in the 90s but in general the country was crazy in the 90s when i was there um it was like they said chicago in the 30s that's how russia was after the soviet union broke up um you know the sharing of all the privatizing of all the factories and stuff lots of billionaires springing up here and there the gang wars and stuff like that so every time we look at the news, this, that, this. And then there was this skinhead movement, was very popular then.

1:34:46So I had to walk, cap on, hood on top, to stadiums, but still sneaking. I just said, 10 minutes to go, run. You can find your way back, because we live next to Dynamo Moscow Stadium. And yeah, it was a massive movement. And yeah, fights and, you know, it was crazy days, Russia in the 90s. everybody even Russians would tell you it was crazy but it's not like that anymore it's more civil the derbies they're just hot inside the stadiums but you will hardly hear they went anywhere fighting so here I know there's still a few guys who were like a rumble yeah I met one West Brom I mean one Wolves fan in the church actually one day in Sedgley and the pastor was a was a wolf's fan and it was a church where my head pro got baptized Jack Hamlet so I went to the church with him for a few weeks then they booked his his baptism beautiful day I bring my kids standing in front row holding my my daughter my younger son and third with me and then a guy comes to me he goes Peter he said I used to hate you his name is Matt I said what he said I'm a Wolves fan but he said I'm confessing this it was deeper than just dislike you I used to hate you really he said but God has just humbled me now he said I just see I just see I just see a guy just a normal man standing with his kids holding him singing hallelujah So this is the, when you say head pro, is that like, was he your good boy?

1:36:36Yeah, so my PGA training, you have to do it under a qualified, a PGA professional. So you are a trainee for three years under one qualified guy. So now I'm a PGA pro myself. So if I wanted to train one person, they will be attached to me, to my golf, whatever. And I will support them throughout their training program for the three years. So Jack was, yeah, he's a West Brom fan, proper West Brom lad with the accent, strong accent. When did you start playing golf? Was that just part of the team? Towards the end, yeah, yeah. I used to laugh. I used to give balls names of guys I didn't like in West Brom.

1:37:15This is you.

1:37:18Peter Odemwingie:Fuck you, Bronte. I'm teeing up you. I'm 10-0, now I need to hit it 300 yards. Who takes that one? The wedge will be for a guy that is okay. The one that go far, give them a name. Whack. Over the fence. Are you mad at the ball? Yeah, I mad at the wall. Fuck off. That said, I was such a bad golfer. I would miss sometimes. Miss the ball completely. But some still got it. But yeah, jokes apart, Roy took us to America to a hotel for preseason. There was golf pot in green. There was a driving range behind. So many West Brom players, we used to play. But that time, if I had spare time, I used to play tennis a bit.

1:38:04I preferred something faster. But when I tried it, I was like, wow, this game is harder than I thought it is. Then studied it. Stoke had golf days. He actually made us have a good team spirit. we played a lot of golf together with the players uh mark hughes himself loves golf all his crew played golf we went to dubai a few times he said if you train well you guys can have an afternoon off play uh golf so players will train hard international weeks those of us that were not internationals the irish boys charlie adam also like golf so we will just go to to the Royal Bechdale area, play some golf there, or Trenton, Steve Seedwell.

1:38:47It actually, you know, golf brought me a bit closer to the British guys as this culture, and it made a difference, you know. It made a difference for the team spirit. We had more laugh, you know, about how bad sometimes we can play. What's your headache up now? It's scratch, I'm scratch, but I was off three when I turned pro. Because you could do that from four. At that time, I did the PGA. If you get to four, you can do the PGA program. Now it's friendlier, six. If you get to six, because the golf clubs are becoming longer and longer. So to get to that handicap, you have to actually be a decent golfer.

1:39:26So yeah, I was off three. A year after, I retired. Had more time to play, practice. Watched millions of YouTube videos. My game got better. And I applied to do the PGA program. Just going back to your Stoke days, we had a lot of Stoke fans asking if it got your love back for the game. After that, it sounds stressful that time at West Brom. When you went to Stoke, did it give you a lift? Yeah, but quality players help you easier. Cardiff was a lot of honest players, but young players lack a bit of quality. but the desire is there but the timing of the passes the structure it was a weaker squad as soon as I arrived in Stoke I started to get the balls where I can do something with them more quality to keep the ball a bit we could keep the ball a little bit midfield and Zonzi Charlie Adam with the pass Zonzi will slow the game down play wall passes Glenn Willen was in the middle so there was just maturity so I could time my runs and then literally took me one game.

1:40:38First, second away game, I scored St. Mary's from Charlie Adams. Nice through pass. And I was getting fed, you know, Stephen Ireland. There was a good midfield. Obviously, crouchy. I believe in the long ball still, as much as I like tiki-taka. I scored one against Aston Villa where there was a second ball. and I realized crouching in front of me, just kick it up and run towards him. He's going to do it, like flick it. And I did. Kicked it up, run towards him, he flicked it, I pick it up, score. I'm like, this long ball's been tested and tried and makes it. So I started scoring because I had greater players, bigger players around me with more quality.

1:41:23Arnotovic was really a quality player. Asaidi, skillful players. Johnny Walters will hold up the ball for you, and I can come in and shoot. So there was everything in front of me that I could use to my advantage and I was scoring goals. Did you prefer playing with a big man? Oh, yes. Oh, yeah, yeah. In a way, yes, yes. Some games are obviously for runners, but it's a weapon. I mean, the list, it just gives them some big money. It's a weapon a guy, every team should have. And Claude Puel had it too. So I rate him as a coach. And when I remember, now I'm doing my coaching badges, I'm like, what was Puel doing?

1:41:58I said, remember the 4-3-3? are really 4-4-2 where he put Nikola Favirk like a big guy and we had success with him in some games that that's the only way to get a result in this particular game so it's important yeah I mean the love I mean was it 27 games in total league games for Stoke in total well the after my ACL injury unfortunate away at Man City they signed Shaqiri so I couldn't get any game time now and then a few cameos 10 minutes five minutes but that wasn't enough. The amount of love we've had from Stoke fans for that. Yeah, yeah. The first probably is the first season, the first six months were just so bright that I even earned a call-up to the national team.

1:42:44Then my second son was on the way. He was born in May. And I went to World Cup as a Stoke City player, scored. And it's a little record I have the first putter to score in the World Cup. I'll hold that little one. I didn't win the trophies after Belgium. You'll be the fucking last.

1:43:06I hope I'm not the last. I'm the fucking FAA Cup.

1:43:09Peter Odemwingie:I'm the fucking World Cup. Yeah, but the fans, you know, I came with a dodgy reputation. But then it's good sometimes. Life is special in a way. When I was in Cardiff, the captain there, Hudson, I think what his name was, yeah. He said, mate, you know, we were expecting to see something else from what we saw so far on the media, press, TikTok, whatever, Twitter. He said you are very different to what we thought you would be. Not the persona of what you'd be like as a character. Yeah, what they brought into the club. So I said I appreciate it, mate, but I'm just the same. I never change because I have to change to not be a good boy from QPR.

1:43:50A better first chant for your newborn son? He scores goals, he scores goals, Odomoingay.

1:43:57Peter Odemwingie:He scores goals, he scores goals up front. He scores goals, he scores goals, Odomoingay. I will swap him for a useless cunt. And that poor Kenwin. It was John's. Poor Kenwin. But football fans, yeah, much better. Where was your happiest time? Happiest time? I would say West Brom was one of very happy times. First season, 15 goals. You know, friends, Jerome Thomas was the guy driving me to training first. The boys took me out a few times to celebrate my arrival. Because first month I arrived, I started scoring quick. Second month I already had the Player of the Month award, so there were reasons to go celebrate.

1:44:46so it was a good time Marek Czerkow I left back used to host us in his house sometimes we were invited or just turn up I'll make always make up an excuse I'll make an excuse Peter the Bar is

1:45:04Peter Odemwingie:telling us yeah it's I'm used to it it's part of my life I have to deal with all this banter forever Any regrets? Of course, I wish it never happened. But then back to the mysteries of this world, I think I would have never ended up in Stoke if that didn't happen. Thank you very much for coming. I appreciate it. I knew it's always long with me because there are people that I care for people to know more, especially those it hurt, the story, you know, and that's how many people felt now in West Brom area, especially where I said no, it wasn't that simple. I didn't just pick up my bag and say I want out.

1:45:51So good to, another opportunity to send it out. Class me. Top man, thank you very much.

1:45:58Peter Odemwingie:Welcome guys, yes, my pleasure, yeah. Next time on Under the Cosh. Eight years ago, mate, I was carrying 12 bricks in a hod. Next minute I'm getting signed by Ronald Koeman. When that whistle went on, Premier League player, what is going on here? I just dropped to my knees that day with the Derby, yeah. Clark Carlyle, didn't like him. Graham Alexander, I thought he was a whopper. Julio says, he was there when I turned up. I could get the ball over the halfway line. Jumped over the rail. He's ran 100 yards, bullet naked, and clingsmanned over the finishing line. They had all the foam all over, and they just peppered each other with a fire extinguisher.

1:46:34It smelt like the gates of hell. My wife wrote a transfer request. I went in and give it to the fucking secretary. Mate, honestly, we were walking along in the shopping center, I went to Foot Locker, and the lad who was, like, training with me yesterday gave me a five-pack of tennis. I was up with Geordie Morris. What do you have to ask me about? Him.

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