I meet Riccy Scimeca March'08
after City win at Middlesbrough
in the F.A. Cup Quarter-Final

CARDIFF CITY’s central midfielder Ricardo Scimeca today announced his retirement as a professional footballer leaving Bluebirds followers feeling a sense of shock and sorrow for one of the game’s true gents.

Scimeca has been forced to admit defeat in a virtual 30 month battle to overcome continual knee and groin problems just a fortnight after making a starring comeback.

In that game, City turned to Riccy in a crisis after 4 successive defeats and a depleted side but, starting his first game for 16 months, he starred as City overcome Preston. Three days later, he was performing similar heroics at West Brom helping City to a 2-0 win but having to come off at half-time feeling the effects.

It has emerged he had an op yesterday and facing another lengthy period out of the game, he has been forced admit his time is up.

Scimeca, aged 35, next summer gave sterling service to all his former clubs – Aston Villa, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, West Brom and over the past 4 years with Cardiff City. He amassed over 400 appearences (76 for Cardiff) and scored 17 times, 6 for City.

Talking to the club official website, www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk, Scimeca said, “Whatever the temptation to go on and to try again, you can't ignore what your body is telling you. I've had a good career - it's been great. I feel it's better to be grateful for that rather than think about my regrets about not carrying on as a player. Facing the lads and telling them I was finishing was one of the hardest things I have done. I welled up a little bit, but that's to be expected.”

"There's a feeling of relief as well but it was very hard to make that decision. It had to come at some stage. I wanted to be the one to make the decision, and it's come earlier for me than I would have liked, but that's the way it goes."

City boss Dave Jones added, “We are saying goodbye to a great professional and one of the nicest men in football, it's been a tough decision for him to take and we wish Riccy, his wife Laura and their family all the very best for the future."

I was lucky enough to meet Riccy a couple of times and even stood with his father-in-law, wife and children during an away game at Birmingham.

Good Luck with your future Riccy Scimeca.