Michail Antonio says he had to “swallow his ego” following his near-fatal car crash as he prepares to make his first club appearance in 15 months with Al-Sailiya SC.
The 35-year-old striker suffered multiple leg fractures in a serious accident in December 2024. He returned to action in June with three substitute appearances for the Jamaica national football team, but says several English clubs were reluctant to sign him because of concerns over his injury.
Antonio, who played 323 games for West Ham United FC and became their all-time Premier League top scorer with 68 goals, admitted he was hurt by the way his time at the club ended. He says he was not part of then-manager Graham Potter’s plans and described his exit as “a hard pill to take”.
He revealed that while some managers were interested, club owners were hesitant due to the risks involved. At first, Antonio refused to attend trial training sessions, believing his record in the Premier League and with Jamaica should have been enough.
Eventually, he agreed to prove his fitness in training, including a short spell working with Brentford FC, before securing his move to Qatar.
Now in the Qatar Stars League, Antonio says he feels “like a schoolboy again” and is determined to show he still has what it takes at the top level.
