Sad news that Paul Ritchie has been forced to retire from the game at the age of 32.
I know that his exit from Tynecastle didn’t exactly make him very popular in the eyes of the Hearts support, but I think it’s always sad when you hear about a player’s career ending prematurely because of injury.
Paul Ritchie is the classic example of a player who made a hash of his career by signing for one of the Old Firm at too early a stage. We are often moaning about the number of players who go to Glasgow from other SPL clubs, and sometimes to be honest it’s just sheer frustration that makes us do this. But in Ritchie’s case, just as with Allan Johnston, I think we all felt that it was the wrong move for him and it was clearly one that put money before any footballing aspirations.
Of course, we all know how his move to Rangers ended up and perhaps we don’t have too many sympathies with him over that, but the problems he had with injuries are a different matter. It’s never nice to see a good player’s career nosediving like this, particularly one who really should have been a successful international for Scotland.
It’s funny, because despite the fact that Hearts have had numerous good centre-halves over the years, I always classed Ritchie’s partnership with David Weir as arguably the best we’ve seen in modern times. They complemented each other perfectly: Weir had the organisation and ability to read the game well and was a good passer of the ball, whereas Ritchie was an out-and-out defender who had electric pace. They really were a formidable partnership during the ’97/’98 season and one of the main reasons why Hearts had the success that they did that year.
Of course, that side was always destined to be one that broke up soon afterwards because of the financial situation at Tynecastle, but it’s a shame that they couldn’t have stayed together for at least another season or two – they really could have gone onto great things had they done so, but like Roman Bednar, it’s sadly another ‘what if’ isn’t it?
As for Ritchie, he is now reportedly looking into obtaining his coaching badges so he can move into that area of the game. I wish him well.
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Another example of a player who went downhill when he left Tynecastle. The list is almost endless.
If Romanov is smart (and he often is) then he should pin the names of all the players who have left Tynecastle on the wall of the youth academy… as a lesson for those coming through the ranks. 🙂
He probably isn’t even aware of people like Ritchie to be honest. He’ll know about Hartley and Elvis of course, but anyone before his time? Not sure..
You’re probably right of course, but he did seem to take an interest before… most notably when he spent some time with Gary Mackay during the pre-season tour in Austria. Where his interest lies nowadays though is anybody’s guess…
I liked Paul Ritchie … quite fast for a central defender, and could score the odd goal too. And of course, he became a legend on that day in May 1998. He probably got lulled into the ‘agents trap’ after that, following the promise of big money – only to find that whoever signed him for Rangers wasn’t the manager, because Advocaat seemed to take an instant dislike to him. !! Lets hope he gets his coaching badges, and a job at Tynecastle in the Academy to see if he’s any good.