WELL he's landed on his feet.
Nicky Summerbee is best remembered by Man City fans as a nimble winger who galloped down the touchline delivering first-class crosses into the box.
Now, the Mancunian-born ex pro is delivering his footballing views on Qatar TV for the Al Kass network in Doha.
Summerbee, 46, was turned onto the idea by former Man United star Lee Sharpe, while the Red Devils hero was working in the Middle East.
And while he misses a Sunday roast, Summerbee wouldn't swap the sunshine and wearing shorts and flip flops every day for a life up North.
"This is my home now. My wife and three children are settled here," Summerbee told SunSport.
"I now work for Al Kass television, which covers the local football over here.
"I've been here now for just coming up to six years.
"We have eight channels, and you'll probably find us on one of those channels with the games.
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"And it covers everything, but our job is to cover the Qatar Stars League.
"It has a mixture of some big names.
"Michael Laudrup, Zico was here, you have Xavi, but it's about the local talent.
"I love the place. I think it’s been totally unfair that since Qatar was named as hosts for the 2022 World Cup, the place has received so much negative press.
“People need to come out here and see Qatar - it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.
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"Even in the winter it's 29 degrees. I get up every day and walk around in shorts and flip flops.
"I like the beaches. I have to say that because being from Manchester we don't get the weather at all.
"I like the food, I like playing golf, everything is outdoors.
"Obviously, when the weather is hot, it's a bit difficult.
"But waking up in the sunshine, taking the kids to school with shorts and flip-flops on is not something I'm used to doing in Manchester."
When Summerbee retired from football in 2006, he tried his hand at different jobs.
But it was former rival Sharpe that told him he should think about moving to Qatar.
He admitted: "Lee was doing work out here for football and Man Utd and suggested I do the same.
"My old Black Cats team mate Chris Makin came out too along with ex-Sky Sports presenter Rhodri Williams. Now we all work on TV together."
Despite being happily settled in Qatar, you can't take the Manchester out of the man.
He admitted he likes returning home to see his family, including dad Mike - the Man City legend - when he can.
“We returned to Britain last Christmas," he said.
"But the world’s getting smaller.
"There are six flights out of here each day and I can be in Manchester in six and a half hours."
He has nothing but wonderful memories from his playing days.
"I played for great clubs and it’s a pleasure watching how Man City have been turning on the style this season.
"Hands up, I was a big critic of Pep Guardiola a year ago, but the way he has got City playing this season has been a dream to watch.
"Even if you’re not a City fan, you can only sit back and admire the way they play."
When Qatar won the vote to host the 2022 World Cup, immediate doubts were cast on the country's climate.
But Summerbee believes that the recently built Khalifa International Stadium shows Qatar is more than capable of holding the event.
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“Yes, it gets hot in the summer, but one of the stadiums that has recently been finished for the World Cup staged a game in front of 50,000 fans.
"It was 100 degrees outside, but 22 degrees inside, so that proves what Qatar was saying that they can build a stadium with air conditioning."
Summerbee is adamant that the 2022 World Cup will go down as one of the best ever.
And as far as he's concerned, he won't be returning to the North any time soon.
"If you're not convinced about Qatar, you're going to be when 2022 comes," he said.
"This is going to be unique, this is going to be special. It's going to be the best World Cup in history.
"Forget about the ones you've seen before, Qatar is going to come on the map and you'll realise what a wonderful place it is.
"I live here and I want to live here as long as possible - I love the place."
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