Picture Credit: Twitter
The former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere has decided to hang his boots at the age of 30. Wilshere will now join Arsenal as their Under-18s head coach and the news will be confirmed in the upcoming weeks.
Wilshere wrote in a message on Twitter that said, “Today I am announcing my retirement from playing professional football: 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. 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.”
The 30-year-old has played 197 times for the Gunners between 2008 and 2016 where he scored 14 times. Wilshere also has 34 caps for England, scoring one goal, before also playing at Bournemouth and West Ham United.
He could have been phenomenal: Arteta
Wilshere's career has been riddled with injuries that hampered his career. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta talked about Wilshere's career and said: "It's very sad with Jack. When I joined here and watched him play every day in training and everything he had, you could say he could be one of the best midfielders, but he always had something. He has started to build again a career and then again another injury, another setback, and it was a disappointment."
"I was very impressed with Jack, how strong he is mentally to deal with the situation, because as well he had a lot of pressure from the media because expectations for him were big, but it is what it is. He could have been phenomenal."