Powerful Wigan Athletic striker Emile Heskey has said that he regrets leaving Liverpool, and wishes that he had had more of a chance to prove himself at the top level.
The England international’s career has been reignited since his move to the JJB Stadium, with his good performances earning an England recall and interest from several Premier League clubs.
The 30-year-old moved to Anfield from his beloved Leicester City in 2000 in an £11m deal, and in his first season with the club, scored 23 league goals, earning himself an England call up. After that however, he fell out of favour at Anfield, and was sold to Birmingham for a fee that would rise to £6.25m.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Heskey said, “It was a disappointment to leave Anfield.
“Liverpool are such a big club. Anybody who tells you he wants to leave a club like that is lying.
“But, if your time has run its course, it's no use hanging on.”
Heskey has regained his form since moving to Wigan two years ago, and played a big part in England’s recent World Cup qualifying victories over Andorra and Croatia. However, the Croatia triumph in Zagreb was marred by racist chanting towards Heskey from the home fans.
Heskey commented, “When I made a challenge, which I got booked for, it felt like the whole stand behind the goal we were attacking in the second half was doing it," he continued.
“When we kicked off again with the free kick it stopped, but for 10 or 20 seconds you could hear it, and it was horrible.
“We've had it before, in Spain and Slovakia, and if you think about it, you probably get it in places where they don't have many black players, or even black people, in the community. Not like England, which is multicultural.
“Over there, they are a long way behind us in that respect, and it's down to ignorance. At first I thought, 'What the hell is this?' But as soon as we kicked off again it went out of my head.
“When I was younger, I'd have been angrier, but the more you come across it, the more you're left thinking, 'What can you do?' It's up to the authorities to take action. We've reported it, so let's see what happens.”
The England international’s career has been reignited since his move to the JJB Stadium, with his good performances earning an England recall and interest from several Premier League clubs.
The 30-year-old moved to Anfield from his beloved Leicester City in 2000 in an £11m deal, and in his first season with the club, scored 23 league goals, earning himself an England call up. After that however, he fell out of favour at Anfield, and was sold to Birmingham for a fee that would rise to £6.25m.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Heskey said, “It was a disappointment to leave Anfield.
“Liverpool are such a big club. Anybody who tells you he wants to leave a club like that is lying.
“But, if your time has run its course, it's no use hanging on.”
Heskey has regained his form since moving to Wigan two years ago, and played a big part in England’s recent World Cup qualifying victories over Andorra and Croatia. However, the Croatia triumph in Zagreb was marred by racist chanting towards Heskey from the home fans.
Heskey commented, “When I made a challenge, which I got booked for, it felt like the whole stand behind the goal we were attacking in the second half was doing it," he continued.
“When we kicked off again with the free kick it stopped, but for 10 or 20 seconds you could hear it, and it was horrible.
“We've had it before, in Spain and Slovakia, and if you think about it, you probably get it in places where they don't have many black players, or even black people, in the community. Not like England, which is multicultural.
“Over there, they are a long way behind us in that respect, and it's down to ignorance. At first I thought, 'What the hell is this?' But as soon as we kicked off again it went out of my head.
“When I was younger, I'd have been angrier, but the more you come across it, the more you're left thinking, 'What can you do?' It's up to the authorities to take action. We've reported it, so let's see what happens.”
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