Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, announced his retirement from football on Friday at age 30.
Wilshere who came to prominence playing for the Gunners ends a career which spans 14-years with four teams. The former England International broke the news via his Instagram account in an emotionally reflective post.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Wilshere who made his debut for Arsenal in 2008, became the club’s youngest ever league debutant at 16 years and 256 days, when he came on as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in September of that year.
He would go on to make 197 appearances for Arsenal and winning two FA Cups in the process.
However, a career filled with much potential was also plagued by a series of Injuries , which saw his quality and demand gradually reduce over time. The issue hitting its crescendo in the 2020-21 season which saw him go without a club for that period.
“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,” Wilshere said.
“Having played at the very highest level I have always held such ambitions within the game and if I am truthful, I did not envisage being in this position at times. He added.
“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.”
“I have enjoyed every moment of my career and it has been the journey of a lifetime,” Wilshere added.
“Now is the right time to close this chapter but I still have so much to give to the game and I am excited about what the future holds”.
The World Cup semifinalist had stints at Premier league team West Ham, league 1 outfits Bolton Wanders and Bournemouth before and spending time with Danish side AGF Aarhus.
