"If someone called me tomorrow and said 'Come and play for us' I'd have to consider it, but at the minute I'm not actively looking for a club."
Those are the words of former Everton midfielder Leon Osman in an interview with Goals on Sunday on Sky Sports where he also admitted that he is enjoying life away from football at the age of veteran age of 35.
Osman is a popular figure among Everton fans, having come through the club's academy as a local lad and staying at the club - brief loan spells aside - for approximately 20 years until 2016.
For three seasons between 2003 and 2006, Off The Ball co-presenter Kevin Kilbane played with him during the David Moyes era and on Wednesday night the two team-mates shared memories of their Toffees days.
Osman's impact in the Everton first team was sudden as he scored with his head against Wolves on his first start in May 2004.
"I ended up scoring my first three goals with my head for Everton," he said.
The favourite team he played in was the one that finished fourth in the 2004-05 season and almost got into the Champions League group stages via the following season's qualifying rounds.
Everton's Leon Osman turns away to celebrate his goal with Kevin Kilbane. Picture by Adam Davy EMPICS Sport
"That team we had and that camaraderie we had... we ended up finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League. That team that we built and the camaraderie we had was fantastic. Even now, that's the team I always associate with the best team spirit we ever had at the club," he said.
Part of that team was ex-Denmark midfielder Thomas Gravesen and Kevin revealed that rather than being the hard man that people thought of him as, the Dane was one of the best technically gifted players that he lined up alongside, a point which Osman echoed.
Outside of loan spells at Carlisle United and Derby County, Osman was essentially a one club man for the entirety of his career and admitted that he had never seriously considered offers from elsewhere.
"I did go down and speak to Portsmouth on one occasion when my contract was coming to an end but it didn't get that far and I never really wanted to leave Everton anyway," he said.
In terms of a potential coaching career, Osman is dipping his toes in that domain at Everton, working with the set up outside the first team, as well as doing some media work as he decides what the next chapter of his life will entail.
Given his love for and history with Everton, as a pundit he says it can be "difficult for me to call Everton 'Everton' rather than 'us'".
The 35 year old also talked about his view of Everton today as they begin building the Ronald Koeman era, and talked about the potential for emerging academy graduate Tom Davies who scored and shone in the 4-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday.
He also spoke about "lovely lad" Seamus Coleman, whose development he witnessed first hand from promising right winger to outstanding right back and international captain.
"I've seen his whole development. He was such a timid and quiet lad, so polite and such a nice young man. And to watch him develop and become mature and believe in himself - because he didn't have that at first - and to develop to a point where he's now become Irish captain, it's such a fantastic thing for him," said Osman.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
