Former England midfielder Danny Drinkwater has announced his retirement from professional football.
Premier League winner Danny Drinkwater has announced his retirement from football.
The 33-year-old midfielder was one of the stars of Leicester’s shock title triumph in 2016, earning a big-money move to Chelsea the following summer.
But he did not manage to establish himself as a first-choice player at Stamford Bridge and unsuccessful loan spells at Burnley and Aston Villa followed along with disciplinary problems.
He pleaded guilty to drink-driving after crashing his car in 2019, suffered an ankle injury in an incident outside a nightclub later the same year and head-butted then Villa team-mate Jota on the training ground in March 2020.
Drinkwater’s last appearances came on loan at Reading in 2021-22, following which his contract with Chelsea expired.
The 33-year-old told the High Performance Podcast: 'I'd just like to announce my retirement from professional football.
'It's probably been a long time coming, especially with the last year, but I think it's time to officially announce it now.
'I didn't think it would bother me but saying it then it's almost like scratching a nerve a bit.
'I think I've been ready for it, not stopping at my peak and it's simmered down a bit, that's helped the transition.
'I think I've been in limbo for too long, I've either been wanting to play but not getting the opportunities to play at a level where I felt valued.
'I just thought I'm restless here for no reason, I'm happy not playing football, but I'm happy playing football, so do I just shake hands with the sport?
'It's all I've known, it's been my life since I was six or seven, it was never going to be an easy thing.
'I think the way it's died down has definitely helped. If I was playing week in, week out and had to stop through injury or age I think it would be trickier.
'I've had quite a few offers from Championship clubs, but I never felt the burn, it did nothing for me.'