Former Chelsea and England defender Gary Cahill has officially retired from professional football at the age of 36.
Cahill represented a number of teams including the likes of Aston Villa and Bolton.
His football career blossomed when he played for Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, where he managed to lift the EPL two times, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Champions League and Europa League winner.
His decision to hang up his boots came after he spent ten months of his last playing days at Bournemouth.
CAHILL’S TOUCHING RETIREMENT LETTER
“Football is a game that has given me so much enjoyment and success and as I make the decision to hang up my boots, I can honestly say I gave it everything I had,” Cahill said in a statement.
“I’ve achieved things I once dreamt of, creating some incredible memories. From amazing highs like winning the Champions League and Premier League, to the privilege of captaining my country and Chelsea in an FA Cup winning team will remain with me forever.
“And I’ve also made some fantastic friendships with people across the football world, from teammates, managers, and the unsung heroes behind the scenes. I just want to say a massive thank you.
The England legend further stated that the decision to stop playing football was not an easy one to take.
“I’ve spent 20 years training every day, putting in the work to be in the best possible shape for matchday to help the teams I’ve played for be successful. I’ve had time to consider my options, and after much deliberation and reflection, I feel now is the time to move on to the next stage of my career,” he added.
He also sent words of gratitude to his family, who rallied behind him for 20 years of his football career.
“A special thank you must go to my amazing family, who has supported me and been there every step of the way. I now have the opportunity to spend some quality time with them, which is something I’m looking forward to.
“Beyond that, football will always be part of who I am and what I love, so this is just the end of this chapter. For me, it’s important to look forwards, not backwards, as a new chapter in my life begins.”
