Cobblers return was always on the cards for Michael Jacobs
Michael Jacobs says returning to Sixfields before he finishes his playing career is something he’s always had in mind.
The 33-year-old is back at his hometown club 13 years after leaving to pursue an opportunity at Derby County in the Championship. Many successful years followed, initially at the Rams and then Wolves, Wigan and Portsmouth before two seasons with Chesterfield.
But he’s now back at Sixfields after signing a one-year deal this week, becoming Kevin Nolan’s fifth summer addition, and he feels he has unfinished business.
"It's always been in my mind to come back to this club,” said Jacobs. “I've always enjoyed playing here and when I left, it was one of those ones where I didn't really want to leave but it was a big opportunity for me to go and play in the Championship and I couldn't turn it down at the time.
"I had two years in the first-team and really enjoyed it and I might have stayed for another year or two but another opportunity came up and I felt like I had to take it, but I've always wanted to come back.
"I had so many good times here – I still think that night at Anfield is the best memory of my whole career. To do that so early was amazing and it was such a special night for the whole club.
"Northampton is still the first score I check when I look at Sky Sports and hopefully I can come in and use my experience to help the team and be part of something successful.”
Jacobs came through Northampton’s academy and played exactly 100 times for the club, scoring 15 goals, before reluctantly making the decision to leave.
He added: "It's a football club where people stay because it's a nice place, it's run properly and there's so many good people here. There's lots of familiar faces and no one has a bad word to say.
"The club is moving forward. Looking from the outside, the good thing is it seems like the club is moving at the right pace. The stadium looks great and the team have been very competitive in this division.
"There are some really good teams at this level, you have Luton and Cardiff coming down, and it's about building a squad with good togetherness and a strong culture and I think we've got that here.”