Ex-Leicester City defender Pontus Kamark appeared on a recent edition of The Athletic’s 5000/1 podcast and he discussed his time at Leicester during this podcast appearance.
Kamark joined Leicester City from IFK Goteborg in the summer of 1995, with the Foxes signing him for a transfer fee of £840k. As per Transfermarkt, the former Sweden international went on to make 68 appearances for Leicester City over his four years at the club before he ultimately departed to return to his native Sweden in 1999.
|
|
During his recent appearance on The Athletic’s 5000/1 podcast, Kamark spent some time discussing the reasoning behind his decision to leave the club when he did.
Kamark said: “It was two things. First, my contract ended and I promised my daughter I’d only sign one contract because she was still in Sweden but I got an opportunity to continue, but – if I’m going to be honest with you here, 100%, I’ve never said this because I wanted to speak to another person about it first – when I got on the bench against Tottenham in the [1999 League Cup] final, when we played [Robbie Savage] and [Rob] Ullathorne, who was left-footed, on the right side against [David] Ginola and not me, that made it for me.
“I was so disappointed not to play that day. It was either me or Frank Sinclair, but he was out the night before, so he was suspended [by] the gaffer, so I assumed [I would play]. Obviously it was my side and I had played one-against-one, etc, etc – that was my skill of the game.
“So, I don’t want to be too critical, but I would like to ask Martin [O’Neill] when I see him – because he’s still a good friend and everything – why didn’t I play? I still don’t understand.”
Kamark then went on to reveal that after being snubbed in the League Cup final, he (24:06) ‘went to [O’Neill] on the coach back home and I said, ‘I’m leaving.’ On the way home, I made the decision, just so he should know, that I’m that disappointed.”
Is Pontus Kamark a Leicester City legend?YES
NO
|
TIF Thoughts…
Kamark started Leicester’s 1997 League Cup final 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough and their subsequent 1997 League Cup final replay win over Middlesbrough. Considering that he had experience of playing in a League Cup final and helping his side to victory, it may be reasonable for Kamark to have felt that he should have started the 1999 League Cup final, which the Foxes lost 1-0, and it might be understandable if not starting that game played a role in him making the decision to leave the club later that year.