Ex-ireland Star Quinn To Play For Bec Tero

[Amethyst]

Thai Football (02 March 2006)

Former Irish international, Niall Quinn is expected to sign up for BEC Tero Sasana and could be playing for them in their Thailand Premier League match on Saturday. Quinn, 40, is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok today and will be introduced at a press conference tomorrow.

He retired from top flight football in 2003 after a successful career with Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland. He also played in two World Cup tournaments for Ireland.

BEC Tero Sasana team manager, Ong-art Kohsinkla said that although the deal had not be finalised he did not foresee any hitches.

''We will talk with him when he arrives tomorrow. We have received the ITC (transfer papers) from Sunderland and he is now going to play with our team.''

The coach said Quinn would play as a striker alongside either Teerathep 'Leesaw' Winothai or Worawut Srimakha.

Worawut said he was delighted at the prospect of playing with Quinn.

''He is a world class player and has a lot of experience,'' he said.

Worawut said it would probably take Quinn a little while to adapt to the Thai conditions but he was sure he would be an asset to the club.

Quinn could play as early as Saturday against defending champions Tobacco Monopoly at the BEC Tero ground.

Standing at 6ft 5i (1.96m), Quinn is regarded as a classical centreforward.

He joined Arsenal in 1983 and moved to Manchester City in 1990.

Quinn ended his career with a very successful spell with Sunderland who he joined in 1996. He made his debut for Ireland in 1987 and made 84 appearances for his country.

He retired in 2003 after the World Cup at the age of 37 and took a brief coaching role at Sunderland. Recently Quinn has been working as a TV pundit

[Spit the Dog]

I find it a bit surprising that he would give up a cushy job as a TV pundit to come and play for BEC Tero.

Saying that, it will benefit the Thai league to get somebody with Niall Quinn's experience to come over and play a few games in Thailand. Hopefully the Thai youngsters can learn something from the big man.

[Amethyst]

Good addition to Thai Football .. Im sure Sunderland Scotty will be happy hehehehe

[Spit the Dog]

From what I can gather after watching Tiger First Edition on ESPN last night, Quinn is over here as BEC Tero have some kind of coaching deal with Arsenal. It didn't sound like Quinn's playing career was going to be long term.

Listening to Richard Keys comments, it seems that Niall Quinn has been enjoying a few too many pints of Guiness and curries since he has stopped playing. The Bangkok heat might just prove to be too much for the big Irishman.

[Amethyst]

Yeah before the Thai League Season Start The Bec Tero Squad went to London Arsenal for a short trainning stint and you can see also the new Bec Tero club logo is similar to Arsenal...

Bec Tero now is sponsored by Nike,Emirates Airlines

And i know the coach David Booth, he used to be the head coach of Brunei and Cambodia

[Jockstar]

I heard last night that he was only gonna play one game!!! No idea why, buts that what i heard!

[ThaiPauly]

Good addition to Thai Football .. Im sure Sunderland Scotty will be happy hehehehe

I bet that SS wishes he was still at Sunderland!!!

The sight of a player in a Sunderland kit scoring is a rarity to be savoured, they never look happy when they are scoring when behind

Edited March 6, 2006 by ThaiPauly

[bomber]

CANNOT SEE QUINNY PLAYING MORE THAN 1 CAMEO APPEARANCE,HE HAS TV WORK,AND HIS RACE HORSE'S TO SEE6 TO.WISH HE COULD STILL PLAY FOR SUNDERLAND.WE WENT DOWNHILL FAST WHEN HE RETIRED.BUT HOORAY MICK MC CATHY WAS EVENTUALLY SACKED TODAY,SO GET BACK HERE QUINNY THE JOBS YOURS.PETER CROUCH IS A SIMILLAR PLAYER BUT NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD.

[Sunderland]

CANNOT SEE QUINNY PLAYING MORE THAN 1 CAMEO APPEARANCE,HE HAS TV WORK,AND HIS RACE HORSE'S TO SEE6 TO.WISH HE COULD STILL PLAY FOR SUNDERLAND.WE WENT DOWNHILL FAST WHEN HE RETIRED.BUT HOORAY MICK MC CATHY WAS EVENTUALLY SACKED TODAY,SO GET BACK HERE QUINNY THE JOBS YOURS.PETER CROUCH IS A SIMILLAR PLAYER BUT NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD.

I have a lot of time for Sir Niall, but I can't see him being a successful manager at Sunderland. Top of my list is Martin O'Neill - highly unlikely but he was a Sunderland fan as a youngster. The caretaker boss, Kevin Ball, is another Sunderland favourite who will have the fans backing in the short term but not sure he can take them far in the long term. Expect there to be a change to a more permanent manager in the summer. Wouldn't mind Alex McLeish to be honest. Sunderland did well in their early years under Scottish management.

[Spit the Dog]

Wouldn't mind Alex McLeish to be honest. Sunderland did well in their early years under Scottish management.

If you're after a Scottish manager then I do believe that a certain Greame Souness is currently out of a job.