Swansea favourite announces retirement after 10 years at club

Former Swansea favourite Wayne Routledge has announced his retirement from football, aged 36.

The winger has spent the last 10 years at the Swans. He turned down the offer of a new one-year contract by the Welsh club in the summer after recovering from a knee injury.

Routledge said back in August that he had played his final game for Swansea, but did not confirm his next destination.

He confirmed his retirement via Instagram, posting: “There are many ways to say it, but the hardest is when it’s actually happening!

“It’s been an unbelievable journey. From a boy who just couldn’t stop kicking a football around to the man who has learned so much today. Hopefully the next part is half as fun as this! I thank you all.

“It’s time… Retirement is a strange word when all you know is this. It’s made me who I am today. Thank you all.”

Routledge made more than 300 appearances for Swansea in all competitions, scoring 33 goals.

The Sidcup-born forward began his career at Crystal Palace, making his debut as a 16-year-old old against West Brom in 2001. He went on to make more than 120 appearances for the Eagles.

Routledge moved to Premier League giants Tottenham in 2005 but only managed five first-team appearances alongside loan spells at Portsmouth and Fulham.

Routledge, who won 12 caps for England Under-21s between 2004-07, enjoyed stints at Aston Villa, QPR and Newcastle before his move to Swansea.

Newcastle moves for Mbappe, Haaland, Lingard, Tarkowski and co. rated and slated

Wayne Routledge on being part of THAT Swansea side

Routledge played a big role in the Swansea team that everyone adored in the 2012-13 season. Players such as Michu, Jonathan de Guzman, Ashley Williams and Michel Vorm dripped the Premier League.

The 36-year-old played 42 games for the Swans that season. Michael Laudrup’s side won the League Cup, qualified for the Europa League and finished ninth in the Premier League.

On that season, Routledge told the club’s official website: “It was definitely up there. It almost seems surreal because I say to a lot of the boys in football now that when you’re in the moment it just seems normal but when you look back, it’s incredible.

“To achieve what we achieved, you look back on it now and it’s just like ‘wow, we did that!’

“Even to see what it meant to people here, when we did the bus down the town hall, all the crowds and all the people. It was an incredible time.”

READ MORE: Liverpool defender makes decision on future after solid loan start