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– Sunderland’s former England, West Ham, Tottenham and Rangers striker Jermain Defoe has retired from professional football at the age of 39.
– Defoe, who re-joined the Black Cats in February, scored 304 goals in 762 career club games and added 20 goals in 57 England appearances.
– He also spent time at Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Major League Soccer club Toronto during his 22-year career.
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– “It’s been a really tough decision,” Defoe wrote in a statement.
– “I made my professional debut at 17-years-old in 1999, and I feel now is the right time to bow out.”
– Diminutive forward Defoe scored 162 Premier League goals, making him the ninth highest scorer in the league since its formation in 1992-93.
– He is also 15th in the appearances list, having played 496 games in England’s top flight.
– Defoe’s Sunderland return was marked by a late night social media unveiling on January’s deadline day, in which the veteran striker described the return as “special for many reasons”.
– However, he failed the reach the heights of his first spell, making just seven appearances – of which just two were starts – and failing to score for the League One promotion-chasers.
– While a prominent international, to many non-football fans Defoe will be best known for his friendship with terminally ill Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, who died in 2017, aged six, after a long cancer illness.
– His work through the Jermain Defoe Foundation also brought him an OBE in 2018 for services to charity.
– “Football will always remain in my blood and it gives me great pride and satisfaction to look back on the blessed career I’ve had,” Defoe added.
– “I now look forward to spending some quality time with my friends and family before moving forward on this next chapter in my career.”
– Defoe thanked fans, coaches, team-mates and staff at all his clubs for “playing such an integral part” in his career, while also paying tribute to those closest to him.
– “Lastly I want to say thank you to my mum, you gave me a ball at two years old and made me believe my dream could happen.”
