Gary Rowett: 'Alan Curbishley chased me for so long - the injuries I suffered at Charlton Athletic made it the most frustrating period of my playing career'

Former Addicks centre-back's lengthy spell on the sidelines planted the seeds for a move into football management

It was a case of third time lucky when Alan Curbishley signed Gary Rowett from Leicester City in the summer of 2002. But that was where the good fortune started and abruptly ended once the Charlton Athletic manager finally landed his long-term target.

The Addicks paid £3.5million for the centre-back, 28 at the time, taking advantage of the East Midlands club’s relegation from the Premier League.

But Rowett played just 13 matches for the south Londoners before he was forced to announce his retirement in July 2004 due to a persistent knee injury.

Gary Rowett was made captain by Charlton boss Alan Curbishley/Picture: Keith Gillard

“Curbs had signed me to play with Richard Rufus and we both retired in the same week, virtually, with the same injury,” Rowett, now manager of Saturday’s opponents Oxford United, told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition. “How often does that scenario usually happen?