No way out for Bogarde

By Adrian Clarke

Winston Bogarde has not started a Premiership match for Chelsea FC in over three years. Now aged 33, the former Dutch international, who won the 1995 UEFA Champions League with AFC Ajax, trains with the Londoners' youth team and is a hate figure in the English press.

Bad luck
Bogarde's story is one tinged with bad luck. The ex-Ajax, AC Milan and FC Barcelona man was signed on a free transfer by Gianluca Vialli in August 2000, just two weeks before the Italian was sacked as manager. He played four games under Vialli's successor Claudio Ranieri before being consigned to the reserves.

Press target
If that was not bad enough, the defender quickly found himself pilloried by the media. Picking up an alleged €57,000 a week at Stamford Bridge, he was labelled a mercenary for refusing to leave Chelsea despite the fact he is not wanted and never plays. It is an accusation he denies.

Misleading story
"I know I am the biggest outcast in England, but I can assure you that I always do the very best I can," he told uefa.com. "Whatever Chelsea want me to do, I do it without any problem. I give my all every single day and I know that I cannot do any more than that.

Hurtful comments
"Unfortunately, there are journalists, who don't even know me, who do not like me and from where I am sitting it seems they want to break me as a person," Bogarde continued. "This will not happen because I won't react. But it is very difficult for me to compete with these things because a lot of people believe what is in the papers."

Pecking order
With a new wave of players arriving at Chelsea in the wake of Roman Abramovich's arrival, Bogarde has been pushed even further down the pecking order. But although he last appeared for the Blues in an English League Cup tie against Gillingham FC in November 2002, the press have not forgotten him.

'To the letter'
Recently, a story said that he had begun commuting to training from Amsterdam every day. "I read that I am commuting from my home in Holland but I live in London. Full stop," he insisted. "For everybody who wants to know the truth, I am honouring my contract to the letter. I never miss training and I give my all every day."

Internal exile
The key accusation that underlies these stories is that Bogarde lacks ambition. He has been accused of clinging on at Chelsea for a regular wage. However, he insists that a lack of interest from other clubs is what is keeping him there.

Loan hope
"The transfer window closes at the end of the month, but I've not been told there have been offers to sign me from other clubs," Bogarde added. "The fact Premiership players can now move to other Premiership clubs on loan is a good thing. It's logical to assume that I would be interested in joining another club in this league on loan if I had the chance. Sadly, at present I don't have that opportunity."

No choice
So until the end of the season, it looks like Bogarde will continue to pass on his wealth of experience to the Chelsea youngsters. It is a long way from the Champions League glory of 1995, but with no other options open, it does not seem he has much choice.