Premier League title winner announces shock retirement aged 34 as former club hail ‘monumental career’

PREMIER LEAGUE winner Marc Albrighton has announced his retirement from football.

The 34-year-old memorably won the title with the Foxes in 2015/16 and was promoted back to the top-flight with them last season.

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Marc Albrighton has announced his retirement from football[/caption]

On 7 June 2024, he was among the players announced to depart Leicester upon the conclusion of the season.

Albrighton told Sky Sports on Thursday: “I’ve retired because of the way things finished at Leicester. I thought I’d give it a few months to see how much I was missing the game.

“And if I had that eagerness to get back in and find a new club. I got so far in and probably realised straight away that this was it.

“I didn’t really miss it too much because I was enjoying the other side, whether that’s the media side or spending more time with my family.

“And the ages that my children are at now, it felt like the right time to walk away and reflect on my career and be grateful for it.”

The winger made history with Leicester and shocked world football when the Foxes lifted the Premier League title in May 2016, after only being promoted two seasons earlier.

Albrighton is one of just two English players to have played every game in a Prem title winning season, but never won a full international cap – the other is Steve Bruce.

The Tamworth-born footballer played as a winger or wing-back and scored 20 goals in 310 Premier League appearances.

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The former Prem champ also took to Instagram, writing: “As a footballer, there comes a day when you must hang up your boots.

“I’ve often wondered how it would feel when my time came.

“Now that this day has arrived, I find myself filled with gratitude and peace.

“To the fans at Aston Villa and Leicester City, I am forever grateful for your unwavering support. Your passion and dedication made every moment on the pitch that more special.

“At Villa you embraced me as one of your own, and at Leicester, you created an atmosphere that drove us to achieve the impossible.”

He captioned the post with: “Football – Thank you for everything.”

Leicester posted: “Congratulations on a monumental career. Happy retirement Marc.”

Albrighton was quickly shown much love by his former team-mates.

Former Leicester team-mate Danny Drinkwater, who also retired this year, said: “What a guy!”

And Prem star Jamie Vardy wrote: “.”

While James Maddison – who left Leicester for Tottenham last summer said: “Love you brother! Absolute pleasure to call you my teammate and friend .”

Jonny Evans, who retired from North Ireland duty this week, said: “Congratulations mate. What a career!! ”

Those who put money on the Foxes to be Prem champions at odds of 5,000-1 backed the longest-priced winner not just in the history of English football but in any event, in any sport, anywhere on Earth.

He joined West Brom on a six month loan in January 2023 and missed the final stages of Leicester’s relegation in 2022/23.

Albrighton started his career at fellow Midlands outfit Aston Villa in 2009 where he scored seven goals in 86 appearances.

He then joined Wigan on loan in 2013 before going onto win the Championship- for the first time- with Leicester in 2014.

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