Transfer Deadline Day meme Peter Odemwingie swapped his football boots for golf clubs to pursue his dream of playing on the PGA Tour. The 43-year-old may have enjoyed a stellar footballing career at the highest levels, but he will always be remembered from his botched 2013 move to Queens Park Rangers. Playing for West Bromwich Albion at the time, QPR were interested in securing the services of Odemwingie to help in their Premier League relegation battle.
And as the clock ticked down towards the January transfer window deadline, Odemwingie took matters into his own hands - driving down to Loftus Road from the Midlands with hopes of finally striking a deal. West Brom had already reportedly rejected two bids in excess of £3million for the striker, but Odemwingie was determined for a change of scenery. Harry Redknapp, who was manager at the time, also had high hopes of securing the services of Odemwingie, previously recounting the drama which unfolded. He recalled: "So I said to him, 'Look, get down here, if it's not until nine or 10 we might be able to get the deal done'.
"We hadn't even spoken about money or wages with him, [but] put yourself in a hotel somewhere so that you're close by." Rather than heeding Redknapp's advice and booking into a nearby hotel, Odemwingie opted to drive straight up to Loftus Road - greeted by a number of journalists who probed him on his appearance. Speaking to Sky Sports News on the night, Odemwingie said: "West Brom is my home, but it's a new chapter to start in my life. You know, I love West Brom and always will but you know. I think every football fan is excited to see if we're going to make it or not. I'm very optimistic about it, a few good players already arrived here.
"I'm happy with the trust that the manager, Harry Redknapp, has given me. It's interesting, you know?" However, in an embarrassing turn of events, Odemwingie was forced to make the long trip back up to West Brom after a deal failed to materialise. Speaking on the debacle at the time, Redknapp told media: "I think he probably felt that the deal had been agreed between the clubs and it hadn't, and it was all a bit of a mix-up really.
"I feel sorry for the lad and the way the whole thing's turned out really. It's been difficult. It wasn't any of our doing - I think maybe he was advised that he should turn up here, that the club had made an offer, and the offer had been accepted. But I think the wires got crossed somewhere.". After the turn of events, WBA chairman Jeremy Pearce also said that the club had no desire to sell core players, adding: "The only way we would have considered letting Peter leave was if an acceptable offer was forthcoming and if we had found a suitable replacement at relatively short notice. Neither materialised and, in the end, the matter became a point of principle as much as anything.".
Odemwingie later apologised for his behaviour, but his relationship with West Brom was ultimately tarnished - leaving the club for Cardiff City in September 2013. The footballer had stints with Stoke, Rotherham United and Madura before hanging up his boots in 2019 - and has since gone into a completely different sport. That's because Odemwingie is now a member of the Professional Golfers' Association, with hopes of making it on the PGA Tour. Speaking to the BBC in January, Odemwingie said: "You have to have a dream and chase it, right? I'll play in Q School (the PGA Tour's development circuit that awards tour cards), see how far I am off that mark.
"I'm going to play the Open qualifiers next year. It's possible. I have the talent." Odemwingie only started playing golf after arriving at West Brom back in 2010, before truly falling in love with the sport when he moved to Stoke four years later. He explained: "The magic of golf brought us together. "The camaraderie grew a lot in the dressing room." He added: "We took that on to the pitch and had lots of success together as footballers." Odemwingie also drew comparisons between golf and football during his interview, explaining: "Sometimes the weight of the pass in football is as important as how hard you hit a putt in golf, so [it's] not just all about power.
"I loved scoring goals, especially in the last minute of the game, and with golf it's like holing a putt on the 18th hole to win a tournament. My competitive nature is fed, and the good thing about golf is I can play this for many years to come. My status as a sportsman is still there.". Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
