Football is a game of opinion, but arguably more often than other clubs, some Cardiff City signings have raised a few eyebrows.
New signings always bring excitement. With them, a sense of hope and expectation. A sense of the unknown, and the possibility to make things better. In the case of some, however, this turns into disappointment. Both for them, and the fans.. Here are 10 of the most memorable examples at Cardiff City.
Marley Watkins
One of the more recent additions. It was the dream start for Watkins in south Wales. On August 10 last year, he signed a one-month deal and on that same day he made his debut and bagged a brace in a 3-2 EFL Cup win over Sutton United.
It was to be short-lived however, as he did not feature for the Bluebirds again, and the club confirmed Watkins would not be offered an extension beyond his initial deal.
Just 16 days after signing for Cardiff, Watkins joined Aberdeen, where he still is now.
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Lee Camp
In a career spanning 20 years, Lee Camp has surely seen it all. He moved to Cardiff City in 2017, looking to add some experience to Neil Warnock’s side, on a two-year deal.
However, he never made an appearance for the Bluebirds, and was sent out on loan just months after joining the club, linking up with Sunderland in the winter window.
Just six days ago, Camp signed for National League side Wrexham on a short-term contract.
Etien Velikonja
In a move described as his ‘dream’, Etien Velikonja joined Cardiff City as a 23-year-old full of hope from Slovenian club Maribor.
Reportedly costing the Bluebirds 3.6 million euros, it was a costly mistake for Cardiff City. Despite a glowing recommendation from Jose Mourinho, Velikonja managed just one league start, with no goals. He now plays his football for Gorica, back in Slovenia, on loan from Dutch side NEC Nimegen.
Jonny Williams
Perhaps the most recognisable name on this list, Jonny Williams is no stranger to a loan spell. In a professional career spanning 10 teams overall, including five loans. However, Williams joined Cardiff in February last year, and spent just half a season with the Bluebirds before being made a free agent. He revealed his disappointment last summer, believing he was going to stay on with the Bluebirds.
He made just one league start during his six months at Cardiff, behind Harry Wilson, Rubin Colwill and others in the pecking order, and joined League Two club Swindon Town, on a one-year contract in August 2021, where he plays his football now.
Filip Kiss
Another of Malky Mackay’s failed signings, Filip Kiss joined Cardiff City on loan from Slovan Bratislava in 2011, making 27 appearances and scoring one goal. He made a positive impact during his loan and did enough to warrant a permanent contract with Cardiff in 2012.
As soon as pen was put to paper however, Kiss fell off the map. He made just two more appearances for Cardiff and was loaned out to Ross County twice as well as Haugesund in Norway. Kiss seems to have found a more permanent home now though with Saudi Arabian team Al-Ettifaq, where he has been since 2017.
Jo Inge Berget
One of many signings Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made from his former Norwegian club Molde. Berget made just two appearances for the Bluebirds and they both ended in defeat. He made his debut in the fifth round of the FA Cup, starting in a 2-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic, and a week later played the final 11 minutes of a 4-0 home loss to Hull.
Berget signed a short-term loan deal with Celtic, but after they failed make his loan permanent, he returned to Cardiff for just two weeks before his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
He now plays his football for Swedish club Malmo FF, having spent two spells at the Swedish side with a brief year at New York City in-between.
Filip Benkovic
Remember Benkovic? Yeah, didn’t think so. The Croatian joined Leicester City in 2018 for a whopping £13m and was loaned out to four different clubs thereafter, including Cardiff City. He played just once for Cardiff before being recalled by parent club Leicester in January 2021. This meant, with just three months at the club, it was a brief stay in south Wales for the centre-back.
Benkovic and Leicester agreed to cancel the remaining term of his contract in January this year and he joined Serie A side Udinese, where he plays his football now.
Rolf Feltscher
Rolf Feltscher, through the recommendation of Harry Redknapp, joined Cardiff City on a two-month contract following a successful trial in 2017. The Venezuelan only managed to feature as an unused substitute in two league games, but never made an appearance for Cardiff City.
In June 2021, he returned for the second time to German side Duisburg and now plays his football for them in 3. Liga.
Solomon Taiwo
Way back in 2009, Solomon Taiwo signed a three-year deal with Cardiff. Described by manager Dave Jones as a ‘good prospect’, Taiwo was initially noticed while playing against Cardiff City for Dagenham and Redbridge in the first round of the Football League Cup.
Despite the promise he initially showed, Taiwo made just nine appearances for Cardiff City during his three-year deal and was loaned out back to his previous cub, as well as Leyton Orient. Upon completion of his contract, he was not offered a new deal by Cardiff and left the club in June 2012.
Aged 36, Taiwo plays his football for Faversham Town in the Isthmian League South East Division.
Guido Burgstaller
Finally, Guido Burgstaller joined Cardiff City in 2014 on a three-year deal as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second signing of that summer. “It has always been a dream for me to play in this country” he said on arrival. That dream would soon turn into a nightmare.
He managed just three Cardiff appearances, however did score a goal against Coventry in the Capital One (now EFL) Cup. Russell Slade let him leave in January 2015 to join Bundesliga 2 side Nurnberg.
Aged 32, he now plays his football for German side FC St. Pauli.
So, there we have it. Is there anyone you think has been hard done by to be included in this list, or anyone you think we might have missed? Let us know in the comments below.
