On Friday, former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott announced his retirement from professional football following his departure from Southampton at the end of the 2022–23 campaign.
The 34-year-old has called time on his career, confirming his retirement with an emotional post on his official social media platform.
Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/A4qRFMUKr9
— Theo Walcott (@theowalcott) August 18, 2023
Walcott made 563 club appearances, winning two FA Cups and two Community Shields with the Gunners. He scored 129 goals and provided 95 assists across all club competitions, including 80 goals in 397 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, Everton, and most recently Southampton.
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⚽️ 80 goals
????️ 56 assistsThank you for the memories, Theo! pic.twitter.com/K2hgduotM2
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 18, 2023
He made his debut for the English national team in 2006, becoming the country’s youngest player at the age of 17 years and 75 days, and he was a surprise inclusion in their squad for the World Cup in the same year under the tutelage of Swedish boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
In 47 appearances for the Three Lions, he scored eight times, including a hat-trick against Croatia in World Cup qualifying in 2008, which made him the youngest player to score a treble for England.
