It really overwhelmed me. The thought of returning to the place that I loved. It was beautiful, living here. Bulgarian by blood but brought up in Gibraltar. The thought of stepping out on to the pitch soon scared me. The last time I left the pitch was in an ambulance in Brazil. Corinthians are a awful club for what they did to me, that challenge ruined my career and all they did was release me. It wasn't my intentions to retire, I wanted to be the oldest ever footballer, but Neymar ruined it all with that challenge in November 2012. I saw a poster about my career it read.
RA MANKNOVIK
CF
born 26/8/1970
Sofia 1984-1989
Hertha 1989-1989 moved for 800k in January
free transfer 1989-1991 sacked after brawl
Man C 1991-2000 moved on free in August
2000-2007 Real Madrid moved for ?5.3 million
2007-2013 Corinthians moved for 200k
2013-? GIBRALTAR ROCK AFC MANAGER
that sight made me uncomfortable, the memories of holding my 42 year old leg shouting "no" over and over again and the discomfort of my leg even now 9 months on. I turn and here a small black haired woman say "good afternoon mr. Mankovik" she was wearing a blue cardigan over a yellow top. It was a peculiar sight as she was smothered in makeup. In my vague Spanish I managed "good day Madam" I felt like a fool but she made it worse with a burst of laughter and "the chairman wants to see you now" followed by more giggling. The chairman Barry Adams was a young blond man with thick glasses and a slight lisp "good afternoon sir and welcome to the rock. Home of Gibralter rock AFC" I made a fool of my self as I said "what's the rock" he chucked a reply so cruelly it was almost a Crime "the stadium you ****" oh dear "let's get you signed up"