Former Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe has officially announced his retirement as a professional footballer.
Now 39, Defoe rounded off his playing days with a second stint at Sunderland after joining from Rangers in January, making seven appearances before making the decision to call time on his career.
Defoe wrote to his Twitter followers saying it was ‘the right time to bow out’ after ‘an incredible journey and said football would ‘always be in my blood’.
‘After 22 years in the game, I have decided to retire from professional football. It’s been a really tough decision, and one I have discussed with my family and those closest to me.
Former Spurs and England striker Jermain Defoe has announced his retirement from football
Defoe won his first trophy with Rangers last season after being brought in by Steven Gerrard
‘I made my professional debut at 17 years old in 1999, and I feel now is the right time to bow out. I have had an incredible journey, and have met some amazing people in the game.
‘Football will always be in my blood, and it gives me great pride and satisfaction to look back on the blessed career that I’ve had. I now look forward to spending some quality time with my friends and family before moving forward on this next chapter in my career.
‘Thank you to all the fans from each club I’ve played for. The love I have received and endured throughout my career will never be forgotten, and I will always have a special bond with you all.
‘Thank you also to my amazing team-mates, coaches and staff for playing such an integral part in my career.
His best spell of his career arguably came at Tottenham, who he helped fire to the Champions League in 2009-10
‘Lastly, I want to say thank you to my mum. You gave me a ball at two years old and you made me believe my dream could happen. All that I am is because of you, and I owe everything to you and God.’
He spoke to Sky Sports about his decision to retire and admitted it felt ‘strange’ that he would never take to the field again but said he felt he had to listen to his body.
‘It’s a little bit strange’,’ he said. ‘A lot of emotions, it was a tough decision because growing up when it’s your dream to play at the top level and knowing at some stage you have to stop it’s unthinkable. To get to 39 it’s good going. I’m proud of what I’ve done but it hasn’t sunk in yet.
‘I think it’s the right time. Over the years I asked players “did you know it was the right time to stop?” It’s something I’ve been thinking abot for a couple of weeks. I was in London over the weekend with family. I had a two day coversation with my mum. We spoke about the club and it was just an honest conversation.
‘She asked me, “hows your body, how do you feel?” I was honest and thought it’s the right time for me to stop. I would never want to get into a situation where you long it out or block an opportunity for a youngster to come through.
‘You’ve got to listen to your body. You’re going to get the aches and pains and the niggles. That’s normal. It’s a tough decision but I believe in my heart that it’s the right one.
Defoe’s effort of 162 Premier League strikes means he is the ninth highest scorer in top flight history, above Michael Owen and Spurs legend Teddy Sheringham – and only one off Liverpool icon Robbie Fowler.
Defoe had plenty of admirers on the pitch but also earned plaudits off of it too.
He was also awarded an OBE for his services to football and his Jermain Defoe Foundation in the 2018 Birthday Honours.
And he warmed the hearts of the nation by striking up a relationship with terminally ill six-year-old Bradley Lowery, the young Sunderland fan who tragically died from cancer – with the striker regularly seen holding the youngster in his arms before and after matchdays.
He never won a trophy during his time in the Premier League but lifted his first piece of silverware last season with Rangers – having been brought in by manager Steven Gerrard to bring his experience to Ibrox.
Defoe’s career began at West Ham, where Harry Redknapp gave him his debut and he went on to play 105 times for the Hammers – netting 41 times before controversially joining rivals Tottenham for around £6million.
His clinical displays in front of goal earned him 57 caps for England. Pictured: Defoe scoring for the Three Lions against Slovenia at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
Defoe was always a threat in front of goal and maintained his track record after joining Sunderland in 2014
One of the most heartwarming stories of Defoe’s career was his relationship with terminally ill six-year-old Bradley Lowery before his tragic death
He would go on to feature 176 times for Spurs – scoring 64 goals – but never truly became first choice as he battled the likes of Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov for a place in the side. He then re-joined Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth in 2008, finding his groove again with 17 strikes in 36 games.
Redknapp then joined Spurs and brought Defoe back with him the following year – which is when the forward arguably found the best form of his career. He scored 24 goals in the 2009-10 campaign to fire the club to their first ever place in the Champions League. In that season, Defoe memorably smashed in five goals against Wigan in a 9-1 rout at White Hart Lane.
He fired in 79 goals from 186 games in his second spell, before a brief spell with Toronto in the MLS and then Sunderland and Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Rangers and then a return to the Stadium of Light provided the base for the twilight of Defoe’s career.
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