Former England and Chelsea defender, Gary Cahill today announced his retirement from football.
Cahill, 36, made the announcement in a statement today.
In the statement, he said he had the option of continuing to play as he got offers from one Premier League and some championship teams.
However, he said his football journey had to come to an end at a point and he deemed now the best time for that to happen.
Cahill had been without a club since leaving Bournemouth in the summer.
He previously played for Crystal Palace, Bolton Wanderers, and Aston Villa.
Joining Chelsea in January 2012, he won the UEFA Champions League in his debut season, and went on to win the UEFA Europa League twice, the Premier League twice, the FA Cup twice and the League Cup.
He was also capped 61 times by the Three Lions, scoring five goals.
Taking to his Facebook page on Wednesday, Cahill said, “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.
“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. 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.
“Taking the decision to stop playing is not an easy one. 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.
“A special thank you must go to my amazing family who have 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.”
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