Former England international Jonjo Shelvey has dismissed suggestions he moved to Dubai for financial reasons after footage of him missing a penalty for UAE third-tier side Arabian Falcons went viral, attracting over a million views on social media.
The 33-year-old midfielder, who captains the Arabian Falcons in the UAE Second Division League, was filmed failing to hit the target from the spot against Al Fath at Jebel Ali Shooting Club, with an estimated crowd of just 75 spectators – a far cry from the packed stadiums he experienced at Newcastle United, Liverpool and Swansea City.
But Shelvey insisted he “could not care less” about the viral clip and revealed his move to the Middle East was motivated by family concerns rather than money.
‘There’s No Money in UAE Second Division’
It doesn’t bother me,” Shelvey told BBC Sport about the penalty miss. “I’ve since seen a few things like ‘he’s gone there for money’. I’m thinking ‘what money? There’s no money in the UAE Second Division League’.”
“The ballpark of the standard wage here is £2,000-a-month for a footballer. In terms of what I’ve earned throughout my career, that’s nothing.”
“My brother earns more working in a hotel in London, so it was never about coming here for the money.”
Concerns About Life in Britain
The former England midfielder, who earned six caps for his country between 2012 and 2015, revealed deeper concerns about raising his family in the UK influenced his decision to move to Dubai.
“If I’m honest, I don’t want my children growing up in England any more. We’re very lucky that we lived in a nice part of the UK but where I’m from, originally, you can’t have nice things in my opinion,” the Londoner said.
“I’d never wear a watch in London any more. You can’t have your phone out in London, in my view.”
About 80,000 mobile phones were stolen in London last year, according to the Metropolitan Police, with high-profile thefts making headlines including ex-Formula One driver Jenson Button having £250,000 worth of valuables snatched outside St Pancras station in February.
However, the Met says personal robbery has been reduced by 13% and theft is down 14% in London so far this year.
Political Concerns
Shelvey also expressed concerns about the political climate in Britain, though he was careful not to elaborate too much.
I’m not massive on reading politics,” he said. “I just see some of the things that go on.”
“I see people getting arrested for tweeting and, then, all of the flags and ‘taking back the country’.”
“I’m not going to sit here and comment on things like that because I’m not clever enough to, and I’ll get myself into trouble if I carry on, but I just feel that the UK isn’t what it was 10 to 15 years ago.”
Finding Love at Newcastle
Despite his concerns about England, Shelvey was full of praise for Newcastle and the north east, describing it as “the only place there he would want to live” in the UK.
The midfielder spent seven years at Newcastle – longer than any other club in his career – following his £12 million move from Swansea City in 2016.
“There’s this debate about whether Newcastle are able to attract the big players compared to the Manchester clubs and the London clubs but, until you go there, you don’t understand what it does to you,” he explained.
“There are loads of things to do. I don’t care what anyone says. If players are going to listen to this, it’s a no-brainer to go there and play football.
You will not find love at a football club like I found at Newcastle, with how they take to their players and how much they back you.
The Leeds Goal That Saved Newcastle
Shelvey revealed the significance of his goal against Leeds United three and a half years ago, which proved crucial in Eddie Howe’s early reign as Newcastle pulled away from relegation danger.
“If I had not scored that, the club would have gone down!” he joked. “I’m joking. Looking back at it, you don’t realise how big a goal it was and, to be fair, the keeper [Illan Meslier] chucked one in for us. I scuffed the life out of it.”
“But I’ve only got good things to say about my time at Newcastle. I loved it. Even when I first got the call about going there, I drove 12 hours from Swansea because of the traffic. I just wanted to get up there, get my medical done and get signed.”
“I had experienced playing against Newcastle at St James’ Park and you get a real buzz, but you never understand how big the club is until you are there.”
Why Dubai?
So how did Shelvey end up playing in the third tier of UAE football?
The midfielder had been “doing nothing for two months” following an unsuccessful trial at Hull City and a hamstring injury that complicated his prospects of securing a summer move.
But Arabian Falcons manager Harry Agombar, a childhood friend, reached out to ask Shelvey to move to Dubai to help “grow the club”.
“I’ve had my time,” Shelvey reflected. “I’m happy and content. I’m just at the stage now where I want to enjoy football. It’s about waking up, enjoying what I do and spending time with my family.”
Coaching Ambitions
Shelvey is now combining playing with studying for his Uefa A Licence coaching qualification, with evening coaching sessions alongside morning training after signing an initial one-year deal with the Falcons, who are targeting promotion to the second tier.
He counts ex-Manchester United and West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison as a team-mate and believes there are “a few players out here you could take into League One or League Two if given the chance.
However, Shelvey is wary of being a “hindrance” and has stopped short of reaching out to former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe for coaching opportunities, wanting to get there “on merit rather than relying on someone he knows.
Nearing the End
At 33, Shelvey recognises his playing days are numbered and his body is “not the same as it used to be”.
“When you get older, every time you go on the training pitch, you think, ‘is this going to be my last session?'” he admitted. “If I got a bad injury now, I would probably call it a day.”
“I wouldn’t want to go through the process of rehabbing. There is a fear in that sense but while I still feel relatively good, strong and fit, I’ll just keep going.”
From the roar of the Kop and the passion of St James’ Park to playing in front of 75 fans in Dubai, Jonjo Shelvey’s career has taken an unexpected turn. But for a player who values family security and personal contentment over prestige, it seems he’s found exactly what he was looking for.
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