Former Southampton striker Rickie Lambert, who recently announced his retirement from professional football has revealed that his 2014 move to Liverpool, made him fall out of love with the game.
During 19 year senior career, Lambert played for clubs in the League One, Championship and Premier League.
His most notable spell was with Southampton with whom he achieved back to back promotions to reach the Premier League under Nigel Adkins.
After a series of impressive displays during the 2013/14 season, Lambert earned a call up for the England team for the 2014 World Cup and also moved to Liverpool during that year.
Lambert’s spell with Liverpool was largely unsuccessful and he ended up leaving the club after one season and subsequently had spells with West Brom and Cardiff City.
While talking about his decision to retire from football, Lambert has now said, “I didn’t play much at Liverpool and it was the same at West Brom and then Cardiff.
“I was getting well paid but I never started playing football for the money. And when I decided to go to Liverpool I sacrificed a regular first-team place and that was when I started to fall out of love with it.
“I never should have accepted being on the bench, even though Brendan Rodgers had made it clear to me I would be backup for Suarez and Sturridge.”
