Walcott Retires

[the_dog]

Clearly the offer from Reading lead to him quitting!!

Theo Walcott has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 34.

The ex-Arsenal, Everton and Southampton winger told Gary Neville on The Overlap podcastthe decision is "scary" but he "wants to try new things".
Walcott hangs up his boots following a 23-year career in which he made 397 Premier League appearances.

"I'm officially going to be hanging up my boots. It's very scary, I can't lie," said Walcott.

"It's scary because football's all I've known from the age of 16 or even younger. I want to try new things I never experienced as a kid - I missed out on a lot.

"I just feel like I want to experience life - things [usually] revolve around football for me."

 

[April13th1970]

"I want to try new things I never experienced as a kid - I missed out on a lot."

Sounds like he's off to Ibiza on the lash

 

[WeMightScrapeADraw]

A brilliant talent. Just never fully lived up to the hype. Had a fair few injuries as well. Should never have gone to the 2006 World Cup. Makes me feel old seeing a player like that call it quits.

 

[Pun_1]

Too early to retire IMO. Could have had another year or two. It’s a long time retired to try new things.

I was never his biggest fan to be honest and the decision for Sven to take him to WC 06 ahead of Defoe was baffling to me to say the least.

 

[Lewis_Winthorpe]

I never got him. I never saw anything other than a bang average player with pace but no footballing brain

 

[southshore]

I never got him. I never saw anything other than a bang average player with pace but no footballing brain

He did score a decent hat trick against us in the Premier League

 

[straightatthewall]

A testament to a league that even now values pace over a brain.

 

[Lost Seasider]

It’s a long time retired to try new things.

That cuts two ways, if you're going to be an ex-pro for the next 50 years or so, you're going to want to be as healthy as possible, so is it really worth putting another 2 years wear and tear on your knees, hips, etc, when the return is a fraction of what you used to earn?

Michael Owen retired at a similar age, and I think he said he spent the last 5 years or so of his career waiting for the day.

 

[Pun_1]

That cuts two ways, if you're going to be an ex-pro for the next 50 years or so, you're going to want to be as healthy as possible, so is it really worth putting another 2 years wear and tear on your knees, hips, etc, when the return is a fraction of what you used to earn?

Michael Owen retired at a similar age, and I think he said he spent the last 5 years or so of his career waiting for the day.

Fair point that.

 

[bfcpete]

That cuts two ways, if you're going to be an ex-pro for the next 50 years or so, you're going to want to be as healthy as possible, so is it really worth putting another 2 years wear and tear on your knees, hips, etc, when the return is a fraction of what you used to earn?

Michael Owen retired at a similar age, and I think he said he spent the last 5 years or so of his career waiting for the day.

Owen had more success than Walcott and developed other interests whilst playing. He is now a successful racehorse owner and breeder and sometimes appears as a TV pundit. Most sensible players plan for the future.