Club loyalty in football: On course for extinction?

The last of the lot?

The last week’s been quite a rough one for the Gooners. Following once-upon-a-time club captain and fan favourite Cesc Fabregas’ move to London rivals Chelsea, (Now before anyone points out, I very well know that it was Wenger who rejected the chance of re-signing him and not the other way round), news reports broke out that Bacary Sagna, one of the main pillars in Arsenal’s defence for over 7 years, has agreed to join reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, after what was a long disputed contract row at the Emirates.

This isn’t the first instance of a player swapping colours across the same league, and quite certain it won’t be the last, which leads us back to the old, familiar discussion as to whether player-club loyalty in football has become a thing of past?

Long gone are the days when the title of ‘one-club man’ was held with utmost pride. Back in the 70s and the 80s, most players who broke through the academies into the first team setup were motivated enough to spend their entire careers serving the clubs which had been instrumental in nurturing them during their youth years, with the odd exception of course.

Yes, there are the likes of Gerrard, Totti, De Rossi and the certain few La Masia graduates who are still around, having been there for their respective clubs through the thick and thin. But what after they eventually decide to hang up their boots? Could we possibly be witnessing the last of the very few loyalty-driven footballers ever known? The trends sure seem to favour this assumption.

The dynamics of football have changed remarkably in the last decade or so. What merely was a sport some years back has grown into a proper business venture. The relationships are no more as a club and its players or managers but as employers and employees. The employers on the lookout for better staff to make themselves more competitive and the employees looking for better job opportunities to earn more. Makes sense to some extent, doesn’t it?

Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie at Arsenal, 2006/07 season.

Badge kissing is one major misconception. In the heat of the moment, probably after scoring a goal, a player kisses the club’s badge on his shirt. We’ve seen that several times. But does that really mean anything or is it just another of those empty gestures? It does tend to give a sense of temporary satisfaction. But to the modern fan who interprets it as a sign of undying ‘love’ for the club, it could prove to have severe consequences with time, as before they even come to know of it, the same guy could be kissing some other badge.

With the huge influx of money, even the most dedicated players tend to leave their beloved clubs to earn a few extra bucks by giving the excuse of ‘ greater ambition’. Yes, the reason is true to some extent, but without the added incentive of money would these moves been possible? Not a chance.

Take for instance. When an individual has two job offers on the plate, both rival companies from the same sector. The first consideration in making the choice would certainly be based on the one offering a higher salary packet. It’s almost quite natural. Considering the same factors, is it right to expect players to stay put when another club with bucket loads of cash expresses an interest in signing you with the promise of doubling up the wages? One must remember that, football, at the end of the day is a profession. Everyone desires to reach the pinnacle and earn as much as they can. It’s a normal human trait alright.

I am Zlatan: Perfect example of a modern-day footballer.

But would we, the fans be able to understand all this? Can we accept this hard hitting reality? Now that’s the tricky part. As those who bestow endless support for their clubs, it does almost feel like a stab in the back. We can hope, pray or even request for them to stay but cannot demand it from them, sadly, as that’s how the game is played these days. Money talks, and in the football world even more so.

With the large amount of cash in play and the rapidly pursued transfers, I think it’s time we put the notion of loyalty in football to rest, for once and forever.