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Andy Carroll not only snapped a five-game losing run for Bordeaux, but pocketed himself a much-needed bonus in a 2-1 win on Saturday.
The former England, Liverpool and West Ham striker scored twice in a comeback win over Saint-Pryve-Saint-Hilaire - his ninth and tenth goals of the season.
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Reaching such a figure has bagged him a €2000 bonus, on top of his €1614 per-month salary.
Those figures were reported by local media Sud Ouest earlier this season when Carroll first made the shock move from France’s second tier with Amiens to its fourth with the administratively-relegated Bordeaux.
It’s also claimed that Carroll’s base salary is lower than minimum wage in France, while he can add another €2000 for every five goals extra he scores this season.
The 36-year-old is quickly running out of time, though, with just six games left to play in the National 2.
Carroll was expected to receive a pay rise should Bordeaux achieve promotion, but the chances of that are now looking remote, with the five-game losing run taking them almost out of contention.
There is only one promotion spot up for grabs with the fourth tier in France regionalised into three different groups where the winner of each goes up to the third division.
Bordeaux had reached that height in February, but are now six points behind leaders Saint-Malo with six to play.
Carroll had a storied career in English football, scoring 54 Premier League goals in 248 appearances with Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham.
In 2021 he dropped down to the second tier with Reading and briefly West Brom, before swapping to France with Amiens in 2023.
That move over the channel was surprising enough, but then staying in France to move to the fourth division made even more headlines.
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However, there was plenty more context to Carroll’s decision, given that Bordeaux are one of France’s biggest sides going through the worst period in their history.
The six-time Ligue 1 winners were competing in France’s second tier last season and finished mid table in 12th, but then declared bankruptcy and were knocked down two divisions.
The National 2 has a salary cap of €6million, but the original report from Sud Ouest explained that due to their financial troubles, Bordeaux’s wage bill went from €20million in the 2023/24 campaign to €900,000 this campaign.
Carroll received a €3100 signing on bonus and accepted a salary lower than many of his teammates, and later explained why he accepted the move.
“I joined because it’s a great project,” he told the club’s website shortly after signing.
“Unfortunately, the club has been relegated several divisions but it’s a big club and we’re going to try to put it back where it should be.
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“I just love football and it was an opportunity to play for a big French club. The level you play at doesn’t matter in the end. I love playing football and that’s what I came here to do. I really hope we can achieve our goals this season.”
He went on to reveal: “To be honest, it even costs me money to have gone to play for the Girondins. But I play football and I’m simply happy to play football. I want to be part of the history of this club and to be honest it’s not a question of money. In my career, it’s never been a question of money.
“I enjoyed my life in France last year and this opportunity came along. It’s a great club with great fans.
“The training grounds are exceptional and I wanted to be part of that story. I really adapted well to French life in Amiens, I really enjoyed my life there.”
