Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan Offical Match Programme

THE CENTURION IS

STILL LIVING

THE DREAM!

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centurion a day before travelling to France (in the

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defender faced the prospect of his playing career

coming to the end of the road.

But after playing three of the four games in France,

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star, who turned 37 on Tuesday, wasn’t ready to

hang up his boots just yet.

“I was half thinking about calling it a day after the

Euros because I didn't know how it was going to

go. But being involved in it and having played and

getting the desire back and playing in those big

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said Hughes, who is now plying his trade in India

with Kerala Blasters.

“I went back and said we weren’t staying in

Australia, that I have to keep playing and then it

was a case of seeing what my options were. I

was looking back home and then the India move

popped up. It took me to the end of the year and

then the January window opens up. It gives me

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But this is something I'm glad I've done.

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was something I missed in Melbourne.

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everything whether I played or not and then I got

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and dreams.”

“I'm living the dream. I mean that sincerely,” said

Hughes. “That's why I didn't retire after the Euros.

“After playing in the Euros and getting a taste once

again of playing in the big stadiums against the big

teams, which I really enjoy, I thought ‘why should

I let that all go?’ I still want to perform on the big

stage.”

Aaron Hughes has more reason than most

to celebrate the legacy of Euro 2016.