Former Portugal U21 international Jose Semedo has told the WTID Podcast how he rejected the chance to join Reading and Derby County during his time at Sheffield Wednesday.
The 36-year-old midfielder played for the Owls between 2011 and 2017.
Semedo helped Wednesday to promotion from League One in his first season at Hillsborough after joining from Charlton Athletic, winning the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year award.
He later helped consolidate the Owls in the Championship in the 2012-13 campaign.
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Speaking to the Wednesday ‘Till I Die podcast, Semedo says Derby and Reading then came in for him in 2013, but he wanted to help the Owls fight for promotion to the Premier League.
“I had to prove myself to play in that division [2012-13 season]. I remember after that year I had Derby County contact me and Reading contact me. But I had a contract with Sheffield Wednesday and I had a strong belief to play for Wednesday in the Premier League. It was that close to get there, losing in the playoff final,” Semedo explained.
Semedo proved to be a loyal player for Wednesday considering the interest in him.
In the summer of 2013, Reading were one the favourites for promotion having just been relegated from the Premier League while Derby were improving year-on-year.
The Rams reached the playoff final that season, losing to a last-gasp goal against QPR.
Semedo’s best chance of promotion to the Premier League came in 2016 when the Owls reached the playoff final against Hull City, but they fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat.
A year later Wednesday had another shot of promotion, but this time lost to Huddersfield Town on penalties as the Terriers then ironically beat Reading in the final at Wembley.
Semedo made over 160 appearances for Wednesday during his time at Hillsborough, and he became extremely popular with supporters dedicating an away day to him.
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