Eidur Gudjohnsen admits he was pleasantly surprised to be back amongst the playing staff at Bolton Wanderers.
The Icelandic forward shot to prominence during his previous two-year spell with the Trotters, which ended when Chelsea paid £5million to lure him to London in the summer of 2000. Gudjohnsen proved to be worth every penny of this fee and more, as he helped the Blues to two Premier League titles and a League Cup, before he left for a stint in Spain with Barcelona in 2006.
After more success with the Catalonian giants he headed for Monaco, but his spell in France was a disappointment and after a loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur, he returned to England permanently when he joined Stoke City in 2010. The 36-year-old also had a temporary stint at Fulham, before going on to play for Greek side AEK Athens and Belgian outfits Cercle Brugge and Club Brugge.
Having left the latter in the summer Gudjohnsen decided he would play on, but found it difficult to secure a new club. But when Neil Lennon offered him the chance to train with his former club, the veteran ace didn’t need asking twice. And after impressing during this period whilst also proving his fitness, he has now been given a contract with the Championship club for the rest of the season.
“When it came up I really didn’t think twice about coming here,” Gudjohnsen told Sky Sports HQ. “I’ve fond memories and I know my surroundings. I had a good feeling about it. It’s a very pleasant surprise. The people here have probably got memories of a young, fresh boy with fresh legs and I can say now it’s a more developed payer with slightly older legs but a quicker mind. I’d like to think what I lack in the enthusiasm of a young boy I will make up with experience. I’m just raring to go.”
Gudjohnsen last appeared for Bolton in the Championship playoffs against Ipswich Town back in 2000, and he could pick up his Trotters career against the same opposition on Saturday afternoon. Whether he will soon be joined by another veteran face, Emile Heskey, remains to be seen as Lennon decides whether or not to offer the former England star a contract following a trial period.
Bolton fans, how excited are you about Gudjohnsen returning to your club? Let us know what you think by joining in with the discussion below.
