hɪz kˈɑːntɹækt ɛkspˈaɪɚd æt ðɪ ˈɛnd ʌv tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt ænd ðɛɹwˌʌz plˈɛnti ʌv spˌɛkjʊlˈeɪʃən æz tə wˈɛðɚ hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ wʌz ˈoʊvɚ.
His contract expired at the end of 2008 and there was plenty of speculation as to whether his career was over.