What was once only possible through Football Manager is now reality — an actual English Premier League star has signed on to be part of the S.League.
Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant turned down all other offers and has signed a one-year contract with Tampines Rovers, with an option for extension built into the contract, TODAY reports.
This despite a massive pay cut from his previous wages when he was in Wigan Athletic, pulling in $52,000 a week. With the deal, his monthly salary is believed to be even lower than that, around $45,000. Still, that’s a pretty good salary compared to the rest of us normies, and definitely a helluva lot more than what his Rovers’ teammates are earning.
Offers had come in fast and furious when he was in Singapore, with clubs from South Korea, Australia and Malaysia promising him a way bigger salary than what he could possibly receive here.
Speaking to TODAY, club chairman Krishna Ramachandra noted that club sponsors Komoco Motors and Hyundai have stepped up and help contribute to Pennant’s salary.
Pennant however noted that he had no problems about the pay cut, mentioning that he values Singapore’s stability, safety, cleanliness and education system — generally a good place for him to raise his family.
“The people are friendly and the fans are passionate,” he said. “Everything is great.”
With a former English Premier League star embedding his roots here, now it might seem like it’s not too impossible to imagine more would follow suit.
“I am going to send the word back home that Singapore is a good place to be at and I am hoping to get the other EPL (English Premier League) stars to come out here and have a go. I am sure it would be appealing to them.”
