Retirement
At the end of the 2005 season, Radebe retired from professional football. Leeds' held a testimonial for Radebe at Elland Road on 2 May 2005 attended by a crowd of over 37,886. The Final Score was Leeds United XI 3-7 International XI. Numerous former and current internationals and Leeds United players turned out for the game. The players included Gary McAllister, Vinnie Jones, Jay-Jay Okocha, Mario Melchiot, John Carew, Bruce Grobbelaar, Olivier Dacourt, Nigel Martyn, Gunnar Halle, Neil Sullivan, David Batty, Gary Speed, Gordon Strachan, Gary Kelly, Clyde Wijnhard, Phil Masinga, David Wetherall, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tony Yeboah, Paul Robinson, Chris Kamara, Matthew Kilgallon, Aaron Lennon and Eirik Bakke. Lucas also held a retirement match in Durban, South Africa between a South African Invitation XI and Lucas Radebe All Stars at Kings Park Soccer Stadium The match finished South African Invitation XI 3-2 Lucas Radebe All Stars. The proceeds from both of these matches were combined with other money raised and donated to charity as part of Lucas's big donation to charity in his final year as a player..
He is still a crowd favourite at Elland Road and fans can be heard frequently singing his name even after his retirement showing how much he endeared himself to them during his playing career. In 2008, a local Leeds Brewery asked for suggestions on a new Beer name and the most popular suggestion was 'Radebeer', showing the Leeds fans' fond admiration of Lucas.
On 28 August 2006, Lucas announced that he was going back to Leeds after failing to secure a job with the World Cup hosts to be involved in the set-up of Bafana Bafana. He said he was "tired of waiting for unreliable people" who had allegedly promised him a role in the national team set up as the South African Football Association prepare to host the next World Cup in 2010.
It is also known that Lucas is friendly with former South African President Nelson Mandela. On a visit to Leeds, Mandela told dignitaries "This is my hero".
On 8 October 2009, The English Football Association announced Radebe as an ambassador to help boost the 2018 World Cup bid.
During the FIFA 2010 World Cup, Radebe was a pundit for ITV's match coverage and also a columnist for the Daily Telegraph.
A biography, Lucas: From the Streets of Soweto to Soccer Superstar by Richard Coomber was published in 2010. He attended Leeds' home game against Sheffield United at Elland Road where he was unveiled at half time, as well as signing copies of his book at the club store. Radebe also appeared on football show Soccer AM as a special guest.
Radebe revealed in September 2010 that he would like to manage Leeds United in the future and also manage the South African National side. He says both jobs are the only coaching jobs that he would consider.
Read more about this topic: Lucas Radebe
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