Former Premier League midfielder Sandro has surprisingly come out of retirement to sign for seventh-tier side Harborough Town.
Despite sitting 16th in the Southern League Premier Central, Harborough beat National League South side Tonbridge Angels 4-1 in the FA Cup last weekend to set up a mouthwatering second-round tie with League One side Reading.
Perhaps feeling they were in need of some star quality before that clash, the non-league side have pulled off the audacious signing of Sandro who played 106 times for Spurs and 16 times internationally for Brazil.
The 35-year-old retired in 2023 having most recently played for Portuguese club B-SAD the season prior.
‘What an unbelievable signing for the club, manager Mitch Austin told the club website. ‘I really cannot express how I am feeling.
‘I had a chance conversation with Sandro a couple of weeks ago and we got talking about football, told him about Harborough Town FC and the journey we are on and he has been messaging me ever since to sign on, totally unbelievable and gobsmacked is how I would describe this signing.
‘These sort of signings don’t happen every day but when you get a chance to sign an ex-professional footballer who has played at the highest level in the Premier League and Internationally with Brazil, you just cannot turn it down.’
Austin, a Spurs fan himself, added: ‘I knew all about Sandro, but when I looked back at a few photos online and there he was stood in a Brazil team photo with the likes of Neymar Jr., Ronaldinho, Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Marcelo, I was like what is going on, pinch me!
‘But credit to Sandro he has kept himself really fit and is an absolute great guy, down to earth who when the Chairman and I met with him came across very genuine, polite and humble, you could really sense there was a real desire to get the signing done on his part, I am absolutely delighted to have him at our club.
‘I think the players and staff around the club can learn great things from him and develop and watch his professionalism and understand what is needed if they want to progress and play at the highest possible level of the game. However long he stays we will all become better for it.’
Sandro, who was part of the Tottenham side that made the Champions League quarter-finals in 2011, also enjoyed stints in the Premier League with QPR and West Brom.
He left English football in 2016 to sign for Turkish side Antalyaspor before having a spell in Italy with several clubs, including Genoa and Udinese.
Harborough chairman Peter Dougan added: ‘What can I say, Mitch has done it again!I don’t know how but what a signing this is, a real show of intent from the club to be as good as they can.
‘When I met Sandro I have to say there was trepidation, but really I cannot speak highly enough of him and his professionalism and will to make this signing happen.
‘Everything about the signing was positive, what negative could there possibly be? He will certainly help all the players around him and what a time to be one of those players, I am sure they will relish him being at the club as should we all.’
Sandro’s first game for his new club could be at home on Saturday against Royston Town.
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