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Since Eidur Gudjohnsen last pulled on a Wanderers shirt 14 years ago he has won the Champions League and La Liga with Barcelona and two Premier League titles with Chelsea.
After touring some of the top clubs in Europe, you’d perhaps forgive the Icelander if the memory of his early days in English football with Bolton were a little fuzzy.
But Gudjohnsen remembers vividly his last encounter with tomorrow’s opponents Ipswich Town, and recalls the frustration of watching Barry Knight ruin a play-off semi-final.
Two red cards, three penalties, and more than a decade of bad memories for anyone with a Wanderers persuasion – and to make matters worse, the striker had to watch on from the stands after picking up an injury in the first leg.
“Yes, I remember us being hard done by,” he told The Bolton News with tongue firmly in cheek. “I played the first leg and went there but had slight knock on my knee or ligament injury.
“I watched in agony from the stands. It was a little bit one-sided from the referee.
“But we gave it away in the first leg. In the second leg the game went in a direction which didn’t have much to do with football.”
After Premier League dreams were shattered in Suffolk, Gudjohnsen was seen as a significant asset at a time when Wanderers needed cash.
Chairman Phil Gartside had valued the former PSV man at £10million at one point but ended up having to cash in when Chelsea came calling in the summer of 2000.
“Nothing was sure and there was a lot of speculation and interest from Premier League,” Gudjohnsen recalled. “But I was fully committed because we still had a chance of going to Premier League ourselves.
“Neither myself or the club hadn’t ruled out a contract extension at the time. It was probably the fact we didn’t get promoted that I had the opportunity of going to join a big club like Chelsea.
“It was difficult to say ‘no’ to, plus the financial side of it for the club and myself, it was something I couldn’t turn down.
“We spoke every openly about it. The way I left here was the way I believe players should leave any club with everyone showing a lot of mutual respect and with fond memories.
“Whenever I came back (to Bolton) with Chelsea I had great memories. I always got a great reception off the fans and I always felt they were happy to see me again.
“We won the league with Chelsea and I will never forget after the game some of the Bolton fans singing my name. You feel so appreciated and feeling is mutual.”
Much water has passed under the bridge since Gudjohnsen last turned out for Wanderers but now, at 36, he is preparing to make a comeback and perhaps guide Wanderers into the top flight after two near misses.
The striker has been reassured by what he has seen since returning to train with the club a month ago, not least the message coming from Neil Lennon and his staff.
“I have only known manager for three weeks but there are certain aspects of managers you pick up straight away,” he said. “He has a lot of experience and a great winning mentality from his time at Celtic. It is something he wants to bring into the team.
“We have gone five games unbeaten, we would have liked to turn these draws into wins but it is a long season in the Championship.
“As long as there is a steady line going upwards that’s the main thing. As far as Neil Lennon is concerned, he is very straight to the point. What you see is what you get.”
Gudjohnsen has travelled to training with David Wheater – “I promised I’d mention his name,” he laughed – and is also looking to reignite his international career, with Iceland standing a good chance of qualifying for their first major tournament at the Euros.
“Hope is not the right word,” he said. “We just missed out on going to the last World Cup. I have been fortunate in my career to have won a lot of trophies and being part of very successful teams.
“For Iceland, I settled for the fact we would never make it to a European Championship or a World Cup then all of a sudden we have got this generation of players.
“We have started off this campaign really well. I think to myself If I am playing and if I am 100 percent fit, why not? But this is the future. My main thing now is to get as many minutes under my belt for Bolton and just basically enjoy my time here.”
After touring some of the top clubs in Europe, you’d perhaps forgive the Icelander if the memory of his early days in English football with Bolton were a little fuzzy.
But Gudjohnsen remembers vividly his last encounter with tomorrow’s opponents Ipswich Town, and recalls the frustration of watching Barry Knight ruin a play-off semi-final.
Two red cards, three penalties, and more than a decade of bad memories for anyone with a Wanderers persuasion – and to make matters worse, the striker had to watch on from the stands after picking up an injury in the first leg.
“Yes, I remember us being hard done by,” he told The Bolton News with tongue firmly in cheek. “I played the first leg and went there but had slight knock on my knee or ligament injury.
“I watched in agony from the stands. It was a little bit one-sided from the referee.
“But we gave it away in the first leg. In the second leg the game went in a direction which didn’t have much to do with football.”
After Premier League dreams were shattered in Suffolk, Gudjohnsen was seen as a significant asset at a time when Wanderers needed cash.
Chairman Phil Gartside had valued the former PSV man at £10million at one point but ended up having to cash in when Chelsea came calling in the summer of 2000.
“Nothing was sure and there was a lot of speculation and interest from Premier League,” Gudjohnsen recalled. “But I was fully committed because we still had a chance of going to Premier League ourselves.
“Neither myself or the club hadn’t ruled out a contract extension at the time. It was probably the fact we didn’t get promoted that I had the opportunity of going to join a big club like Chelsea.
“It was difficult to say ‘no’ to, plus the financial side of it for the club and myself, it was something I couldn’t turn down.
“We spoke every openly about it. The way I left here was the way I believe players should leave any club with everyone showing a lot of mutual respect and with fond memories.
“Whenever I came back (to Bolton) with Chelsea I had great memories. I always got a great reception off the fans and I always felt they were happy to see me again.
“We won the league with Chelsea and I will never forget after the game some of the Bolton fans singing my name. You feel so appreciated and feeling is mutual.”
Much water has passed under the bridge since Gudjohnsen last turned out for Wanderers but now, at 36, he is preparing to make a comeback and perhaps guide Wanderers into the top flight after two near misses.
The striker has been reassured by what he has seen since returning to train with the club a month ago, not least the message coming from Neil Lennon and his staff.
“I have only known manager for three weeks but there are certain aspects of managers you pick up straight away,” he said. “He has a lot of experience and a great winning mentality from his time at Celtic. It is something he wants to bring into the team.
“We have gone five games unbeaten, we would have liked to turn these draws into wins but it is a long season in the Championship.
“As long as there is a steady line going upwards that’s the main thing. As far as Neil Lennon is concerned, he is very straight to the point. What you see is what you get.”
Gudjohnsen has travelled to training with David Wheater – “I promised I’d mention his name,” he laughed – and is also looking to reignite his international career, with Iceland standing a good chance of qualifying for their first major tournament at the Euros.
“Hope is not the right word,” he said. “We just missed out on going to the last World Cup. I have been fortunate in my career to have won a lot of trophies and being part of very successful teams.
“For Iceland, I settled for the fact we would never make it to a European Championship or a World Cup then all of a sudden we have got this generation of players.
“We have started off this campaign really well. I think to myself If I am playing and if I am 100 percent fit, why not? But this is the future. My main thing now is to get as many minutes under my belt for Bolton and just basically enjoy my time here.”