Former Southampton and Arsenal forward Theo Walcott announced retirement from professional football on Thursday. The forward left Southampton at the end of the previous season after the Saints were relegated from the Premier League. Walcott made 560 club appearances in all and scored 129 goals.
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Theo Walcott started with Southampton in 2005 and broke into the Saints' first team at sixteen. He became the youngest player to start in Southampton’s reserve and first team. Walcott is also the Saints’ youngest-ever goalscorer. He moved to Arsenal in 2006 for an initial GBP 5 million fee, which would rise to GBP 12 million with add-ons.
He would make his name in North London, recording 270 appearances for the Gunners over 12 years, scoring 65 goals. At Arsenal, he was given Thierry Henry’s iconic number 14 shirt and played in the first eleven for over a decade. At Arsenal, he won four trophies; two FA Cups and two Community Shields Walcott then played for Everton and, eventually, Southampton before hanging up his boots.
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Walcott was notable for being included in England’s 2010 World Cup squad despite never playing for the country before the tournament. He made 47 appearances for the national team and scored eight goals.
“I want to experience life”, Walcott explains why the time for retirement is right
Theo Walcott has decided to call it quits despite being more than capable of playing football at a Championship level for a few more years at least. The player said, “I want to try new things I never experienced as a kid – I missed out on a lot. I just feel like I want to experience life – things [usually] revolve around football for me.”
He added on Instagram, “The first moment I put my football boots on aged 10, was the start of a special journey for me. The support shown to me throughout this time has been incredible in every way imaginable and I am truly grateful. I’ve shared the football pitch with so many incredible players and we have created so many unforgettable memories.”
