ABDOULAYE Faye has been the unlikely inspiration driving Hull City up the final straight towards promotion – and now he hopes his reward can be one more lap of the Premier League.
After helping West Ham to the top flight 12 months ago, the veteran defender was able to celebrate his second consecutive promotion out of the Championship when captaining the Tigers to a dramatic final-day draw against Cardiff.
Success with the Hammers last season led to Faye's departure from Upton Park last summer and, nearing the end of his one-year City deal, he again faces an uncertain future.
An outstanding climax to the season has given the stand-in captain fresh hope of a Premier League swansong, and he now wants to make the KC the final stop of his decorated career.
"I'm very proud," said the former Senegal, Bolton, Newcastle and Stoke defender.
"I played for West Ham last year and they went up and then I came here and it's happened again. The manager gave me this chance and I'm so happy for him. I'm 35 and that's why this means so much.
"Next season we'll play in the Premier League and maybe I can too.
"I have one season left, maybe two, and I would love to stay here. I would like to finish my career here.
"I'm not drinking, I'm not going out anymore so I would love to play football for Hull City for another year.
"Now I will enjoy my holidays, eight or nine weeks, and we will see what happens, but I would love to stay here with Hull City. The club has made me very proud."
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Since returning from injury at the end of March, Faye stood as a towering presence in the Tigers' final eight games.
That included Saturday's epic conclusion, but it was almost a day to forget.
After Nick Proschwitz had missed the chance to give City a 3-1 lead from the penalty spot in time added on, Faye was harshly adjudged to have handled Aron Gunnarsson's long throw inside the Tigers box.
Nicky Maynard duly converted the spot-kick to plunge City's promotion in doubt and soon left Faye weeping in the dressing room as Watford chased a win that would turn the promotion race on its head.
Leeds United's late winner, effectively ending Watford's hopes of snatching second spot, eventually brought sweet salvation, but Faye was visibly moved by events.
"After the game I was very worried," he explained.
"The referee gave a penalty against me and they made it 2-2 so I felt sick inside.
"I was crying in the dressing room because it felt as though it was my fault.
"We had to wait for Watford against Leeds and that was horrible, but Leeds won and that's when everything went crazy.
"Oh my God, it was crazy. I still can't believe it and I don't have the words."
Despite representing Senegal at three African Cup of Nations tournaments and helping Bolton into Europe during his time at the Reebok Stadium, Faye believes the crescendo of the Championship season ranks as his finest hour. One year at the KC Stadium has developed into a love affair with supporters and he said: "Everyone was just so happy to be promoted and this is the best day in all my life.
"We deserve to go up because we've been second, second, second all the way through and it all came down to the final game.
"We knew we had to win the game but football is crazy sometimes."
Having turned 35 in February, Faye was remarkably City's eldest player to start against Cardiff by seven clear years.
Liam Rosenior, 28, was next in rank in a side littered with potential.
The core of the squad will be retained by Bruce as he builds for the Tigers' return to the Premier League this summer and Faye hopes his vast experience still has a role to play.
"It's a very young team and I am the old one but I try and give the players confidence," he added.
"I am very proud and very emotional. It's a very good group of players.
"We work hard, we win together and we lose together. It's a very humble group and that's why we deserve to go up."
