When I left Everton, I knew my life as a football player at the top level was as good as finished.

The injuries were taking their toll, the knee that throbbed with every step was no longer responding to painkillers, but, above all, I wasn’t going to find another club like Everton.

Why didn’t I sign the new contract I was offered at the end of my fourth season?

I thought, ‘Maybe, I can make one more step’. It is the only decision I regret from my entire career.

I should have stayed at Everton, no doubt about it.

Joining in the first place was a big decision. I’d had only one season at Atletico Madrid, a big club playing in the Champions League. You wake up in Madrid and the sun is shining.

But when Everton came, the challenge intrigued me. I was a student of football and already understood the history and tradition of the Club. And, believe me, everyone in football knows about Goodison Park and the energy and passion in the stadium when Evertonians are supporting their team.

I researched a little bit more, read about The People’s Club and the players and the city.

My mind was made up, I had to play for Everton. I knew there would be pressure, we had sold Joleon Lescott and we were missing Phil Jagielka with an injury.

The fans would have been entitled to reserve judgement, to wait to see if I was up to the job of playing for Everton – and replacing popular and important players.

But from my debut at Fulham, and my first game at Goodison against Blackburn Rovers, I felt complete love from everyone.

There was a connection between me and the fans and the Club from the beginning and I can’t tell you how vital that is for a player to show his best.

I had some low moments. Of course I did, this is football at the highest level and I was at Everton for four-and-a-half years. But in those difficult times, the support was even more intense.

That is one of the main reasons I am so happy I played the best football of my career for Everton. It was always a big motivation to repay the fans with my effort on the field.

Let me tell you about that first match against Blackburn. This was my English football baptism, on and off the pitch.

David Moyes told us to report to Goodison at 1.30pm. I was in shock, ‘How is this possible?’

I asked, ‘Where is the pre-match meal?’ I learned you take care of your own food. I was coming from countries where you stayed in a hotel the night before games.

But everything about matchday was special, arriving to see supporters already around the stadium, that short time before kick-off when we came together as a group.

We were so tight-knit and loved each other’s company. It was like a bunch of friends getting together on a Saturday afternoon. Then, about 15 minutes before kick-off, there was a switch, complete focus; time to go to work.

I played all 90 minutes of the Blackburn match and afterwards I hurt from the end of my big toe to the back of my head.

The speed and physicality took some getting used to but my confidence and mindset were good and our team was full of top-class players.

I won some important trophies in my career and went to a World Cup final but I class my Everton Player of the Season award from my third year as one of my biggest achievements.

Naturally, when I am asked about Everton, people want to know about my favourite memories.

When you have so long at such a special club, it is difficult to pick only a few. I will always treasure the games against top teams at Goodison, where it felt like the players and fans were ganging up on our opponents and we could beat anyone.

But it is the people who make a club. I loved Jimmy Comer, our masseur, he’d get so nervous before derbies. You could see the depth of the love for Everton from everyone at the training ground.

Ajax was always my side. I supported them growing up and work here today. If you’d told me when I was spending my first 18 years in football at this wonderful club, I would one day have the same feelings for another team, I would have said, ‘No chance’.

And I would have been wrong. Everton will always be in my heart, I watch every match possible and am always scanning the internet for news.

Yes, I still kick myself for not signing that contract. But Everton gave me some of the best years of my life and for that I will always be grateful.

By John Heitinga, 140 appearances + 5 goals for Everton (2009-2014)