334: Jason Koumas, Wigan Athletic, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, 2009/10

Emlyn Jones takes us through the career of yet another Wales international with a lot of talent. Emlyn is quite dismissive of his own sporting ability in the opening paragraph but I think he’s being hard on himself. As part of an awful five-a-side team at university (featuring me and Mat Jolin-Beech) Emlyn once muscled the opposition’s star striker off the ball and topped off his calm pass back with a derisive “man up” to the complaining forward. It’s worth noting that Emlyn was wearing eyeliner and a sleeveless Brazil training top at the time. Sergio Ramos would’ve been very proud.  

For many growing up turning out for your favourite team is the subject of many daydreams and as a kid I was no different. Sadly, although watching Wales play in the 90s made it closer than it should have been, I've never had anywhere near the ability to play football professionally. Or any sport, for that matter. And yet some players blessed with the ability to play at the top level just aren't that fussed about it.

Many have dismissed it as 'just a job', including World Cup players Gabriel Batistuta, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Christian Vieri; who claimed he would much rather have been a cricketer. There's also England's David Batty, who recounted that, having achieved so much so early, he lost passion for the game. Bar his autobiography, he hasn't appeared on TV or given interviews for years following his retirement. Another such player won 34 caps for Wales, scoring 10 goals, and played several seasons in the Premier League – but really wasn't that bothered about it all.

Jason Koumas was rated as one of the most exciting prospects in his Liverpool Academy year, no small praise when it included Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. However, things didn't work out, with management viewing him as disinterested, and Koumas opted to sign for Tranmere Rovers in 1998. After three seasons of excellent performances, including being picked in the team of the year following a goal to help knock Everton out of the FA Cup, Premier League West Bromwich Albion swooped for the talented midfielder.

Although things started well for Koumas in the Midlands the team couldn't avoid relegation. Koumas was once again named in the team of the season the following year, as the Baggies boing boinged back into the Premier League. However, the arrival of Bryan Robson led to accusations of laziness and a lack of passion for the game, and he was transfer listed by the new manager.

 

A successful season on loan at Cardiff City heralded another team of the year pick, and this was repeated when he returned to a relegated West Brom under new boss Tony Mowbray. There followed a £5m move to Wigan Athletic. He scored some fantastic goals, but again was accused of a lack of motivation, while also struggling with injuries. This time also saw the end of his international career. Despite a goals-per-game record bettered only by Gareth Bale in the modern era, Koumas was never seen as passionate enough, and was in and out of the side.

Koumas fell out of favour at Wigan, and another loan spell at Cardiff followed, the highlight being a cameo appearance from the bench against Doncaster Rovers, scoring a 25-yard free kick before converting a Craig Bellamy pass for a 3-1 win. However, the promotion push faltered, and Cardiff did not seek a permanent transfer.

 

With the season at an end, and his Wigan contract expired, no clubs were willing to gamble on Koumas, and he was without a club for two years. He eventually popped up again at Tranmere, playing two seasons, both ending in relegation, before retiring in 2015 and pretty much vanishing completely. Fans of the clubs he played for regularly vote him onto their 'Greatest Player' lists, and when playing for Wales he always looked like one of the most gifted players on the pitch. However, some people just aren't that fussed about the game; possibly why the arguably less talented, but dedicated Gerrard was able to play at a high level and retire exalted, while Koumas drifted out of the game after relegation to the fifth tier. He probably wasn't that bothered, mind you.