10 Former Aston Villa Players They Could Do With Now
10. Wayne Routledge
"When Spurs came knocking I told Wayne to stay and learn his trade at Palace, but he went, he grabbed the money, and now hes at Villa not getting in the first team, just like he didnt get in the Spurs team, just like he didnt get in the Portsmouth team and just like he didnt get in the Fulham team. - Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan, July 2008.
Simon Jordan wasnt wrong - Routledge made a grand total of two appearances for Aston Villa before signing for Championship club QPR in 2009. His career looked to be petering out, as he failed to establish himself in various first-teams and it has taken him until his late 20s to realise his true potential at Swansea City. What the Aston Villa faithful wouldnt do to have their former flop back at the club these days, having made over 100 appearances for the Welsh club since his move from Newcastle in the summer of 2011.
"Ive learned to keep a level head. In football, a low point can be just around the corner. It has been a long road to get here. If I was just doing it for the money, why would I change clubs so much? I moved to play football. I have moved all around the country because I love playing, getting games. I have seen Simon Jordan since and he said I am doing well now which is a nice compliment after what he said. I dont think anyone who knows me would question how much I love the game or say I have moved for the money. - Wayne Routledge, January 2013.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
