Taxi driver's soccer career back on road with Gillingham TownA former Romanian professional footballer has followed some famous sporting footsteps by taking up a new playing career in England.
But although Romanian stars Adrian Mutu and Dan Petrescu earned millions playing in the Premier League, Rus Alim-Yaler is driving taxis around Yeovil and playing for part-timers Gillingham Town.
His hopes of securing a deal at Yeovil Town were dashed when a DVD showing his playing highlights failed to impress club coaches.
Resigned to taxi driving, it was only when his boss at Yeovil-based Radio Cabs heard of his former 12-year career in Romania that word spread and Alim was signed-up by the Dorset part-timers.
The 36-year-old centre-half, who lives in Yeovil, has played more than 250 professional games in the country's top division, often against some legendary names of Romanian football.
Alim made his debut in the Les Phillips cup in November and has not looked back since.
"The standard is not quite the same but I am happy to be playing again," he said.
"Gillingham is a good team with good people. I enjoy it very much.
"I wanted my chance at Yeovil but there was talk of the manager changing, so maybe that is why.
"I have played against Mutu, Gica Popescu and Ionut Lupescu. All good players but Gillingham has good players too and the manager is a good guy."
Alim played for 12 years in Liga One for seasoned European competitors Gloria Bistrita and CS Pandurii where players are paid up to 5,000 euro a month.
Once he has earned enough money from taxi driving, Alim hopes to move his wife and two young children over to live with him later this year.
He compares the standard in his old Romanian league to the English First Division and his new manager Adrian Foster says his class stands out in matches.
"Yeovil Town looked at a DVD of Alim playing but he was probably a bit old for them. We are glad to have him with us. He is quite a player," he said.
"My wife who works at Radio Cabs told me about his situation, so I asked him to come to training so we could have a look at him. It was clear he had played at a decent level.
"Alim's English isn't great but he brings along his Romanian mate, Sebastian, who passes on my instructions.
"We don't get many foreign players in this league so it's good to get someone a bit different in."
Gillingham Town are currently sitting top of the Toolstation Western League Division One table and take on Keynsham Town at Hardings Lane on Saturday.
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