Jermain Defoe has had a blessed career and when he joined Toronto FC to play in the MLS many though it was the end of the forward playing at the top-level.
The striker has managed to prove everyone wrong in recent years and his move back to the EPL to play for Sunderland was one of his best career choices he has made.
His team may have been relegated, but Defoe was the shining light of a dreadful season under former Man U boss David Moyes.
Not ready to lay down just yet
At 34 years old, most forwards are calling it a day but not Defoe. He still wants to play at the very top and is desperate to play for England.
He has been capped a total of 56 times during his career and if he manages to perform as well as last campaign for new club Bournemouth he could well get his chance playing for the national team once again at a major tournament.
When Defore joined Sunderland from Toronto FC back in the January transfer window of 2015 no one could have predicted that he would become their star man.
Sam Allardyce was impressed by the striker and managed to persuade him to extend his contract at the club. Defoe put pen to paper but was able to insert an agreement that if they club was to get relegated he could move on a fee transfer.
That was a wise bit of business by Defoe as his team ended up finishing bottom of the Premier League and it meant that he was able to leave with no problems.
Special connection
Bournemouth has snapped up the forward on a free transfer and is going to pay him around £20 million to secure his signature for three years.
Defoe has a special connection with the Bournemouth fans due to playing for the club at the start of his illustrious career. At just 18 years old during the 2000/01 season, he was loaned to the club from West Ham.
During that time he managed an amazing return of 19 goals and Bournemouth fans will be hoping he can do the same again 16 years on.
Defoe does not only just have a special relationship with the fans due to his amazing season he spent on loan at the club but also the manager and assistant manager. Both Eddie Howe along with Jason Tindall the forward has played alongside and they already have a special bond due to this.
A true professional
Bournemouth fans will be hoping that Defoe can match or beat his tally of 15 EPL goals last season.
If he can it will be a great success and it would be crazy to not back the forward to manage to achieve it. If the players manage the kind of personal success he had last campaign he may well get a chance to add to his 20 goals for the national team.
The reason Defoe has managed to keep up his form through his career is down to the way he looks after himself and is a true professional. He does not drink alcohol and is a vegan which has certainly helped him play longer than most.
Defoe had other options on the table such as Crystal Palace and Watford but choose Bournemouth due to his special relationship with fans and management team. It really is a fairytale come true and he will be desperate to prove he made the right choice.
This article is from sports journalist and professional writer John Hawthorne.
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