Premier League cult hero Peter Odemwingie reveals all about THAT infamous failed deadline day move to QPR – and opens up on his move into golf
- Peter Odemwingie arrived at QPR on deadline day but the move fell through
- The 43-year-old has reflected on the incident after recently switching to golf
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Premier League cult hero Peter Odemwingie has opened up about his infamous failed Deadline Day move to QPR.
In January 2013, the London club secretly fought to secure the West Brom striker’s signature and Harry Redknapp told him to remain hidden in a hotel near the stadium in case the deal was completed in time.
So everyone was stunned when Odemwingie showed up to QPR’s Loftus Road stadium uninvited, with a gross misunderstanding of the situation.
“It’s a new chapter in my life starting,” he declared from his car. ‘I love West Brom and always will. I think every football fan is interested to see if we can make it. or not. I’m very optimistic about it.’
Odemwingie had arrived believing that the two clubs had agreed on a fee, but that was not the case.
Peter Odemwingie has opened up about his infamous failed Deadline Day move to QPR in 2013
QPR were stunned when the West Brom striker turned up at the club uninvited on deadline day
After making the 201km journey from West Brom to QPR in 2013, Odemwingie was refused entry by the west London club, who had not yet agreed a deal with the Baggies.
The Nigerian was left waiting in the car park with reporters for the final moments of the deadline and ultimately never completed his move to Redknapp’s side.
In an interview with the Guardian this week Odemwingie reflected on the incident and said: ‘He (Roy Hodgson) made a few comments that I couldn’t accept and they behaved childishly as a football club.
‘When it came to QPR, everyone’s reputation was more important than mine. They set terms for how the deal could be completed. I accepted the terms and went to London. That’s all.’
Asked how it felt to drive back to West Brom after the move fell through, he added: ‘I’m a man of pride but I have a good heart so I knew it would pass.
‘It was difficult because I was angry and it was a very difficult time to go through. It was very embarrassing in many ways. But then I saw people for who they are.’
Odemwingie, now 43, has turned his attention to golf, recently playing on the Clutch Pro Tour.
Odemwingie has turned his attention to golf, recently playing on the Clutch Pro Tour
‘It’s unbelievable. “I never thought I could become so obsessed with this game,” he told the same publisher.
‘I didn’t like golf at first because I thought it was a bit slow. I was a striker who liked to sprint and score goals
‘But what attracted me was the challenge and trying to master it. The mental side of things is probably the hardest part.”