Gary Cahill retires aged 36 as ex-England and Chelsea star looks forward to ‘next chapter in life’ after 18-year career

FORMER England and Chelsea star Gary Cahill has announced his retirement from football.

The defender, 36, has been without a club since leaving Bournemouth in the summer and decided the time is right to hang up his boots.

In a statement the ex-defender 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.”;

Cahill played a key role alongside John Terry in the historic Chelsea side which claimed a first Champions League title for the Blues in 2012.

PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k

He won the Europa League the following year and again as captain in 2019 after taking on the armband after Terry retired.

Between those successes he won the Prem twice and the FA Cup three times, while also representing England at the World Cup in 2014 and 2018, as well as Euro 2016.

Cahill also played for Aston Villa, Bolton and Crystal Palace, and had loan spells at Burnley and Sheffield United as a youngster.

His retirement comes a day after former England star Aaron Lennon decided to call time on his career at the age of 35.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY...The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.