I didn't know exactly what to expect when I first came to Seattle but I have to say that how the city and the fans have embraced me has gone beyond my wildest dreams and for that I am forever grateful.

I had to have tests for cancer and other diseases - it wasn't much fun. I was getting a shooting pain in my hip and we didn't know what it was. First of all we thought it was an old injury. But they didn't find anything wrong, even though when I had an ultrasound test it was all really swollen.

I loved my time in Japan, and I am grateful to have had the chance to live in Japan and embrace the Japanese culture.

And at West Ham no one gives you a puzzled look if you get called up for your national team and players are never asked to play on injections.

I won almost everything there is to win and I look back with great memories.