Former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere has announced his retirement from football, aged 30.
Wilshere has called time on his career following a short spell at Danish side AGF, announcing his decision via social media.
The midfielder’s career has been decimated with injuries after breaking into the Arsenal side as a teenager, becoming The Gunners’ youngest ever league debutant at the age of 16 years, 256 days.
Wilshere was named as the PFA Young Player of the Year after a breakthrough campaign in 2010/11, but suffered the first of several setbacks that summer and failed to again reach more than 25 appearances in a league campaign.
The former England international – who won 34 caps for the Three Lions – won two FA Cups with the north Londoners and twice won the BBC Goal of the Season accolade.
His career also included spells at Bolton (loan), West Ham and Bournemouth, before announcing his retirement from the game.
“Today I am announcing my retirement from playing professional football,’ he wrote, via Twitter.
“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.”
