Former Premier League cult hero announces surprise career move – as forward, 37, secures new role with City Football Group

Former Reading forward Adam Le Fondre has announced he is to take a role with the City Football Group, the organisation overseeing Man City.

The forward has represented 13 clubs during his playing career, which he admits is nearing an end at the age of 37.

He is currently playing for FC United of Manchester, the protest club established after the Glazer’s takeover of Manchester United back in 2005.

The semi-professional team currently play in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football.

Le Fondre is best known for his spell with Reading, where he scored 41 goals in 110 matches for the Royals between 2011 and 2014.

Le Fondre has played for 13 clubs during his playing career, including Sydney FC in Australia

After helping the Royals earn promotion in 2012, Le Fondre scored 12 goals in 34 matches in his sole season in the Premier League.

Le Fondre scooped the Premier League’s Player of the Month award in January 2013 and boasts a ratio of 124.5 minutes-per-goal in the top flight.

Speaking to the Reading Chronicle, Le Fondre revealed he is looking ahead to his new career as a video scout for the City Football Group when he hangs up his boots.

‘I’m not naive to think that I will last forever so I’ve got things in place to get ready for when I do transition,’ Fondre said.

‘I’ve got a job ready to start and walk into my second career because I’ve still got 30-40 years left, or maybe more. 100 per cent I’m staying in football.

Hopefully, I should be starting a role with The City Group as a scout for them in the emerging talent group so I’m really looking forward to that. 

‘I like the idea of head of recruitment, but you have to work your way up to that point- you can’t just start where you want to you have to earn your stripes and I’m more than prepared to do that. 

Le Fondre is best remembered for scoring 12 goals in 34 matches for Reading in the top flight

I’ve got time to do that and learn the job properly so when I do finish I can be ready to go.’

The City Football Group owns – either fully or partly – 13 football clubs across the world with Manchester City the stand out team.

Le Fondre has previously played for one of their clubs having had a loan spell with Mumbai City in India during the 2020-21 season. 

He also had experience of playing in Australia’s A-League having spent five years playing for Sydney FC.