Edgar Davids Actually Played For Barnet

The Most Career-Mode Signing You'll Ever See

Champions League winner, Serie A winner, Dutch captain and the wearer of an iconic pair of goggles. Edgar Davids had a bit. 

One of the most recognisable footballers of his generation through not only his energetic and bullish play style, but his aesthetics as well. 

He was the kind of footballer that 'they don't make anymore', a traditional midfield general with a mixture of flair and ferocity who was capable of both a Cruyff turn and a two-footer. 

The Pitbull, as he was nicknamed, played for some of the world's biggest clubs, including Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona and both AC and Inter Milan. He also played for some smaller clubs, such as Spurs. 

But there's a previous employer that sticks out on his glittering resumé; North London's very own, Barnet.

Yes, Edgar Davids, THE Edgar Davids, played for League Two side Barnet. 

Davids joined The Bee's in 2012 after a two-year hiatus from the beautiful game. The Pitbull didn't just join as their star midfielder; instead, he flew into The Hive as a player-manager, in his first of three punts at management.

The news that footballing legend Edgar Davids was signing for an English fourth division club spread like wildfire, with Barnet and neutral fans alike being both confused and excited to see the icon in black and orange.

It's worth noting that Davids wasn't joining a high-flying lower league team who had just had a significant financial investment, or a team that had a clear vision for the future. Davids joined a Barnet side that were sat in the League Two relegation zone.

But hope was on the horizon. Edgar Davids was playing for them, surely they'll be safe now?

Well, the Edgar Era didn't begin in the greatest fashion, with his first game in charge ending in a 4-1 loss at home to Plymouth Argyle. In fairness, The Pitbull didn't name himself on the team sheet, a mistake he amended in the next game, where he played a man-of-the-match, winning 90 minutes in a 4-0 win against Northampton Town.

Results varied over the course of the 2012/13 season for Barnet, but ultimately Davids' men could not do enough to survive the Goliath that was the League Two relegation battle.

But Davids was committed and announced that he would be staying with the Bees for the 2013/14 Conference League Campaign. 

Edgar Davids, non-league baller. Bloody hell. 

The season started with a head loss before a ball had been kicked, as Davids announced he would be donning the number 1 shirt to try and start a trend of midfielders doing the same.

Head losses were a recurring theme that campaign for the Dutchman, as despite only playing ten games that season, Davids managed to rack up a tally of eight yellow cards and three red cards.

It wasn't just his on-field antics that were strange. Davids apparently refused to travel with the team to away games if he was required to stay over and also refused to train in the rain, reportedly watching training from his Bentley on a verge looking over the pitches whenever the heavens opened. 

Davids resigned from his position as manager on the 18th of January 2014 after Barnet's subpar start to life in the lower leagues. The resignation also meant an end to his playing career at Barnet and in general.

And thus, the Edgar Davids Barnet adventure was over. 

Davids' time at Barnet splits opinion between Bees fans and neutral fans alike, but the general consensus among everyone is that it was all a bit mental. People couldn't believe that he played for Barnet and, in a way, still can't believe it now.

I grew up in York and was a frequent visitor to Bootham Crescent as a kid, before she sadly got knocked down. I didn't understand why at the time, but when York City played Barnet at home in the 2012/13 season, The Crescent was absolutely packed, presumably filled with people trying to get a glimpse of Edgar Davids actually playing in the fourth division.

My dad still talks about that day, quoting it as one of the strangest things he's seen in football, viewing a player of that stature pulling off step-overs in a league filled with part-timers. 

Fair play, Edgar. If Mundial Mag ever does an Adventures-in-Clubland tier list, I reckon you've secured top spot.