Theo Walcott, one of the best young English players of his time, said on Friday that he is giving up professional football at age 34.
In his 18-year professional career, the winger played for Southampton, where he began and ended, Arsenal, and Everton. He made more than 560 club games and scored 129 goals for Southampton, Arsenal, and Everton.
He was put in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England team for the 2006 World Cup even though he had never played football for his country before.
But he went on to be the youngest player to play for England in a senior men’s international and to score a hat-trick for the national team when he was 19 years old.
Walcott, whose career was hurt by injuries, played 47 times for England and scored eight goals.
Walcott wrote on Instagram, “The first time I put on my football shoes when I was 10 was the start of a special journey for me.”
“The help I’ve gotten during this hard time has been amazing in every way, and I’m very thankful. I’ve played football with a lot of great people, and we’ve made a lot of great moments together.