Exclusive: Pundit says West Brom coaching offer may be on the cards for 39-year-old
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips believes that Gareth Barry still has another couple of seasons in him despite the West Brom midfielder turning 39-years-old earlier this year.
No player has made more Premier League appearances than Barry, who has played 653 times in the top-flight across spells at Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton and West Brom.
However the midfielder’s contract at The Hawthorns is due to expire at the end of this season and it is unlikely he will be offered an extension by Albion as he’s played just six times in all competitions this term.
Even though Barry will turn 40 next season, Phillips believes that the former England international still has a future as a player and could head elsewhere in the summer.
If not, Phillips reckons a coaching role could be on the cards for Barry at The Hawthorns.
“I think Gareth will want to continue playing,” the pundit told West Brom News. “Once you’ve retired, you’ve retired – there’s no coming back.
“He still feels he’s fit enough and having watched him in the FA Cup this year against Newcastle, yes, he looked a bit rusty, but as the game went on, he started to look a bit like his old self.
“West Brom might decide to offer him a coaching role and that might be something he’ll look at but I think he’s still got a couple of years left in him. I’d like to see him continue.”
It remains to be seen what Barry will do once the season is over because the 39-year-old has been pretty quiet about his future in the game.
If he can continue playing elsewhere then we hope he can get more game-time than he has done under Slaven Bilic and can use his experience to stand out.
It’s unlikely Barry will get to add to his record Premier League appearance haul but if he can stay in the Championship then that will be a great opportunity for him to extend what has already been a super-long career.
In other West Brom news, our panel of Super Fans have reacted to Albion’s interest in this £15million-valued goal machine.
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