Former Arsenal star Jack Wilshere has retired from football aged just 30-years-old, after his deal with Danish Superliga club AGF expired.
Loading…
Wilshere, who left Arsenal in 2018, went nearly a year without a club before signing for AGF earlier this year, and played 14 times for the side.
On Friday afternoon, the former West Ham player confirmed that he was hanging up his boots, posting a statement on social media.
"Today I am announcing my retirement from playing professional football," Wilshere said on Twitter.
"It has been an unbelievable journey filled with so many incredible moments and I feel privileged to have experienced all that I did during my career. From being the little boy kicking a ball around in the garden to captaining my beloved Arsenal and playing for my country at a World Cup. I have lived my dream.
"In truth it has been difficult to accept that my career has been slipping away in recent times due to reasons outside of my control whilst feeling that I have still had so much to give.
I’ve loved my dream. Thank you all ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Bj1YDtjng0
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) July 8, 2022
"Having played at the very highest level I have always held such huge ambitions within the game and if I am truthful I did not envisage being in this position at times. However, having had time to reflect and talk with those closest with me I know that now is the right time and despite the difficult moments I look back on my career with great pride at what I have achieved. Playing at the very highest level with some of the best players in the world, winning FA Cups, captaining my club and representing my country were beyond my wildest dreams when I was a small boy growing up in Hitchin.
"I feel very fortunate to have had the career I've had but none of it would have been possible if it wasn't for the love and support of so many people."
The midfielder, who played 34 times for the England national team and won two FA Cups with the Gunners during his career, went on to thank a slew of people, mainly coaches from his days playing for Arsenal.
At the Emirates Stadium, Wilshere broke the record for Arsenal's youngest ever Premier League player, a record previously held by Cesc Fabregas, in 2008.
He made an almost immediate impact, with a goal three days after his debut, in the League Cup and went on loan to Bolton Wanderers in January 2010, where his promise continued to show.
He played over 100 Premier League games over the next few seasons for the north London side but his promise was stalled because of injuries.
🚨 Jack Wilshere has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 30.
— FansBet (@FansBet) July 8, 2022
Scorer of one of the most underrated goals in England history… 🏴🚀
pic.twitter.com/qs01ONeJmI
Wilshere went on loan to Bournemouth in the 2016/17 season but did return to play 20 games for Arsenal in the Premier League the following season.
Arsene Wenger's departure from the club also left Wilshere out of the door, but he soon moved to West Ham, though injuries restricted him there too.
After a short stint in the Championship back at Bournemouth, he was without a club for a while and considered retirement whilst he struggled to find one.
His spell with Aarhus Gymnastikforening clearly wasn't enough to keep him going and he has now decided to call it a day.
