Andreas Weimann's transition to Cheltenham Town marks a significant shift in his career, as the seasoned striker moves from the higher echelons of English football to League Two. At 35 years old, Weimann's signing was one of the more surprising developments of the summer transfer window, given his extensive experience in the Premier League and Championship.
Throughout his career, Weimann has netted an impressive 143 goals while playing for clubs such as Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bristol City, Watford, and Derby County. Despite this wealth of experience, he remains adamant that he has much more to contribute on the pitch. "I’ve got too much left in me," he stated in an interview with BBC Radio Gloucestershire, emphasizing his desire to continue playing as long as he can.
Reflecting on the advice he has received from former teammates who have retired, Weimann noted, "If you can still play, keep playing because you are a long time retired." This sentiment resonates deeply with him, as he feels a strong motivation to perform and support his new team, the Robins. He added, "There was no chance I was going to retire this summer because I feel like I’ve got too much left in me."
Weimann had been a free agent since leaving Derby County in May, after spending the latter part of the previous season on loan at Rapid Vienna in Austria. Although he returned to his home country, his family remained in the UK, prompting him to seek a club closer to them. He expressed, "The most important thing I was looking for this summer was somewhere close that I can travel to. I wasn’t really bothered what league, what competition, I just really feel like I’ve got loads of football left in me and I wanted to play."
A pivotal conversation with Cheltenham's manager, Steve Cotterill, played a crucial role in Weimann's decision to join the club. He appreciated Cotterill's vision for the team and how he intended to utilize Weimann's skills. The striker mentioned, "[We spoke about] how he sees me, how he wants to play. I knew a lot about him before, he was at Bristol City just as I was, and I had a few players that I played with that knew about him."
Since joining Cheltenham, Weimann has participated in all four league matches, starting in the last two, and he contributed an assist in the recent 3-2 victory against York City. He humorously claimed to have scored his first goal for the club during a 2-1 win over Rotherham, suggesting that a shot from Leicester City loanee Jake Evans deflected off his forehead into the net. "I’m convinced that hit my forehead and went in but unfortunately there’s only one camera angle so you can’t see it," he joked.
Looking ahead, Weimann is optimistic about finding the back of the net himself. He believes that as he continues to play alongside his teammates, they will become more attuned to his movements, which will facilitate goal-scoring opportunities. "I’m making the right movements, I’m in the box, and hopefully the more I play with the players they get to know my movements and I get to know their passes and how they want to dribble. As long as I’m in there I’m sure the chances will come and I’ll take them," he stated confidently.
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