Premier League cult hero, 37, lands first job with Man City while still playing for Man Utd fans’ protest club

PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero Adam Le Fondre has landed a job working for Manchester City – while still playing for Manchester United’s protest club.

The former top-flight star earned 34 appearances during his one season in the Prem.

And he enjoyed a superb return of 12 goals and an assist in that 2012-13 campaign – including strikes against Chelsea and United.

The striker even claimed a Player of the Month award for his efforts for Reading.

But after being released by Hibernian in the summer, Le Fondre is lacing up his boots for FC United of Manchester in non-league.

However, he has also put pen to paper on a new role with the City Football Group.

The veteran forward, 37, was appointed as a video scout for the company – which owns 13 clubs across the world including Manchester City, Girona, New York City and

And it will be Le Fondre’s task to help unearth some stars of the future.

Speaking to the Reading Chronicle before the job was officially confirmed, he said: “I’m not deluded, I understand I won’t play forever.

“That’s why I’m making plans for my post-football career.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

“I have a job lined up, ready to transition into a new career because there are still 30 to 40 years ahead of me, if not more.

“I’m hopeful that I’ll soon start a scouting role with the City Group, focusing on emerging talent, which is something that excites me.

“My ambition is to eventually reach a Head of Recruitment role, but I know it’s essential to earn that position.

“I’m fully prepared to climb the ladder and learn as I go, ensuring that by the time I retire, I’ll be ready for the next chapter.”

Le Fondre made his name in League Two before helping fire Reading into the Premier League where he enjoyed a phenomenal record of a goal every 124.5 minutes – despite the Royals’ relegation.

He left Reading in 2014 for Cardiff and had loans at Bolton, Wolves and Wigan before joining the Trotters permanently in 2017.

The forward then five seasons with Sydney FC in Australia – including a one-year loan with India’s Mumbai City – and then a season at Hibs.

However, his time in Scotland ended on bitter terms as he expressed he was “disappointed how certain people treated me” amid claims he was blanked by club chiefs.

But he headed to seventh-tier FC United of Manchester – the club set up as an anti-Glazer movement in 2005 – to maintain his fitness levels.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk