Sad news about Riccy Scimeca

Image via Wikipedia

Cardiff City this afternoon announced the Riccy Scimeca has been focred to retire from football. Since joining Cardiff from West Brom for £100,000, the later part of career with the Bluebirds has been marred by injury.

He joined the City in January 2006 and was soon part of managers Dave Jones starting line-up with Cardiff. He scored his first goal for the Bluebirds soon after joining in a 3-3 draw at Luton. The 2006/07 season he started like it had finished the season before in the starting eleven, he scored his first home goal against his old club West Brom one of five he scored that season. That was his last full season for the Englishman has a series of injuries touch hold.

For the rest of the time with the Bluebirds he was to see the treatment room more than the pitch during 2007/08 he played a part in the season from March but from the bench mainly, and he missed the FA Cup Final. Last season was just as bad injury curtailing his appearances the same this season all leading today’s announcement, his every last game for the Bluebirds was the 2-0 win over his old club West Brom in which he played only the first half before coming off with a injury.

Speaking to news outlets the ex Cardiff midfielder said, "There comes a time when you have to call a halt. Whatever the temptation to go on, and to try again, you can't
Ignore what your body is telling you,"
"I've had a good career, it's been great. I feel it's better to be grateful for that rather than think about my regrets about not carrying on as a player. Facing the lads and telling them I was finishing was one of the hardest things I have done. I welled up a little bit, but that's to be expected.
"There's a feeling of relief as well but it was very hard to make that decision. It had to come at some stage. I wanted to be the one to make the decision, and it's come earlier for me than I would have liked, but that's the way it goes."
Cardiff boss Dave Jones paid tribute to Scimeca and wished him the best for the future. "We are saying goodbye to a great professional and one of the nicest men in football" said Jones.
"It's been a tough decision for him to take and we wish Riccy, his wife Laura and their family all the very best for the future."

Fans will have a chance to wish Scimeca well for his future at the Plymouth game on Boxing Day.