Jonjo Shelvey Claims Dubai Safer Than London Amid Missile Alerts
Former Premier League midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has announced his retirement from professional football this week, simultaneously revealing his new position as manager of Arabian Falcons, a second division club based in Dubai. In an exclusive interview, Shelvey made striking comments about his sense of security in the United Arab Emirates compared to his native England.
"Dodging Missiles" vs. London Crime
When asked about his current situation during the interview, Shelvey responded with ironic humor, stating he was "just dodging the missiles." This reference came during a period when Dubai experienced retaliatory strikes from Iran amid broader Middle East conflicts, leading to airspace closures and thousands of foreign nationals, including Brits, fleeing the region.
Despite these tensions, Shelvey insisted that daily life in Dubai remains largely normal. "To be fair, it's not actually that bad out here," he explained. "It's been blown out of proportion a lot. You're still living your normal life. I think social media has blown it a little bit out of proportion, but in terms of day-to-day stuff, we're still going to the malls and the beaches."
The former Liverpool and Newcastle United player contrasted this with safety concerns in London. "I would feel safer being out here than I would back in London, for instance," Shelvey stated. "In terms of you hear about all the crime that goes on in London and kind of what I watch these days in London. So yeah, I'm glad we stayed and I'm glad that we're residents of the UAE."
Transition to Management with Arabian Falcons
Shelvey's new role with Arabian Falcons marks his transition from player to manager. The club boasts former Manchester United prodigy Ravel Morrison as a player and FA Cup finalist Jason Puncheon as head of football operations. When asked about Morrison, Shelvey acknowledged the midfielder's reputation while praising his current contributions.
"Everyone hears the stories with Ravel," Shelvey said. "To be honest with you, I've not come across him too much in football in my career. I think I only ever played against him once. But you see it day in, day out on the training pitch how good he is."
He added that Morrison provides valuable leadership for the team's younger players. "He's a great character to have around the lads and especially the lads that we've got at the club in terms of we've got a lot of young, African, exciting players. They're very raw. And I think for someone like Ravel to be around them and show good leadership and character, that's very important."
Retirement Reflections and Family Adjustments
Shelvey admitted that accepting his football career was over proved challenging. "Until today, when it's officially coming out that I've retired, I had a moment there where I just sat on the bed and sort of reflected on my career," he shared. "To not get that feeling again in terms of playing, it's obviously not nice."
The six-cap England international cited physical factors in his decision. "I'm not getting any younger, so it takes me a lot longer to recover after a game. I could feel my body and my left knee starting to hurt constantly."
His family's adjustment to life in Dubai has presented difficulties, but Shelvey noted positive aspects. "We went for a roast dinner down on Blue Waters Island by the marina the other day," he recalled. "And we just sat there and thought like, 'You don't get this in the UK.' Do you know what I mean? So yeah, there's definitely a lot more perks to being out here and they're starting to find their way."
UAE's Handling of Security Situation
Shelvey praised the United Arab Emirates' response to the security threats. "You get the fighter jets flying over the house and intercepting the stuff," he described. "But I think you have to give credit to the UAE in terms of how they've handled this situation. They've been spot on and if I'm being honest, I've not felt unsafe once."
He detailed the alert system in place. "There was a time where you'd get two, three alerts a day about taking shelter, but you'd spend 10 minutes in the house taking shelter and then you'd get another alert saying everything's fine, go back to your normal life."
Despite the Foreign Office advising against all but essential travel to the UAE due to ongoing conflicts, Shelvey remains committed to his new life and career path in Dubai, embracing the management opportunity with Arabian Falcons while maintaining his controversial perspective on comparative safety between the Middle Eastern city and London.
