James Weir described his first game with Manchester United as an incredible out-of-body experience and says he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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“I have undergone numerous procedures on my left side, causing my body to tilt. On some days, I struggled to even pass the ball,” stated 28-year-old James Weir, a former midfielder for Manchester United. He recently announced his retirement due to a career riddled with injuries.

Weir made his Premier League debut as a last-minute substitute under Louis van Gaal on the same day as Marcus Rashford. The England striker scored a double against Arsenal that afternoon in February 2016 and his story needs no more telling, whereas Weir spent the following years on a somewhat nomadic journey, culminating in a sixth-month spell at Zlate Moravce, who sit bottom of the Slovakian top flight with five points from 24 games. Last month he called it a day.

I sat on the sideline for approximately 10 matches,” Weir reminisces about his experience with the United first team. “It was quite chaotic – it seems like ages ago. My first appearance was a surreal experience, but they were truly the highlights of my career. Being part of the team and getting a taste of the size of the club was amazing. I wouldn’t trade that moment for anything.

Being a young professional at United is enjoyable, and Weir maybe stayed too long. He has not fallen out of love with the game, and can still be found playing seven or nine-a-side in Cheshire with a group of fellow former professionals and those waiting to find a club, including Ravel Morrison and Danny Simpson.

After spending time in Hungary with MTK Budapest, a prominent club in the country, Weir required surgery and a long period of recovery. After a trial with National League team York, Weir ultimately decided to go back to Slovakia, where he had previously excelled with Pohronie, helping them stay in the league and enjoying the change of scenery away from his home country of England. Weir reflects on his experiences in Slovakia, recalling the intense fan support during Slovakian Cup matches where the entire village would come out to watch the top-level team play.

Later, there would be a fair and gathering where they would serve you goulash and share a beer with everyone from the area. It was a more intimate and community-focused experience.

When it became evident that his body was not coping well with his professional life, Weir made the decision to step back. He had already started studying for a degree in sports, business management, and accounting at Manchester Metropolitan University. He considered various options, including joining the police force, but ultimately chose to become a self-employed travel agent. “While I can still play football at a lower level, my body couldn’t handle the demands of playing professionally day after day,” Weir explains. “Living apart from my family was not worth it anymore. I knew it was time to move on and pursue a different career.”

Weir’s previous role as the organizer at United, be it on the field or in planning outings, proved useful. One outing stands out in his memory. “Phil Jones was part of the reserve team then and he proposed that we arrange a day trip to Aintree. He covered the cost of the box and all the refreshments, but unfortunately he had to make a player appearance and couldn’t join us. So, the reserve team went without him and Phil Jones ended up footing the bill. Needless to say, we had a fantastic time but I have no recollection of giving any sort of speech.”

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Weir was the captain for United’s Under-21 team when they won a title, but he was then sold to Hull, a Premier League team, in August of 2016. He signed a three-year contract but injuries prevented him from getting many opportunities. Eventually, he joined Bolton, who had dropped to League One, in 2019. However, he didn’t win favor with the manager, Keith Hill, and ended up terminating his contract and moving abroad. When he arrived in Slovakia and Hungary, his teammates were curious and asked him why he was there, considering his past with Manchester United. In Hungary, where James Bond is popular, they gave him the number 7 jersey so he could be “007 James Bond.” His other option was to wear Paul Scholes’ jersey, since they have similar hair colors.

Having previously played with high-profile athletes in other countries, one team decided to use social media as a way to test the players’ connections with well-known individuals by having them call their most famous contact. Unfortunately, Weir was unable to reach Rashford as he had changed his number, while Andrew Robertson’s call went unanswered.

Whereas many footballers are unwilling to leave their comfort zone, Weir was keen for travel. He enjoyed his honeymoon in Botswana. “My family was always big on visiting new places – my sister has done it extensively,” Weir says. “My brothers have lived all around the world, so I got used to visiting new places and loved it. My dad pushed us to travel and see wildlife – he loved that. Our honeymoon was an out‑of‑this‑world experience.”

Playing in the Premier League is a completely different world for Weir, but he is content with the decision to embark on that journey.

Source: theguardian.com