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Football

27th Mar 2019

Gabriel Agbonlahor confirms retirement from football

Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has announced his retirement from football at the age of 32 after failing to find a club since leaving Villa

Reuben Pinder

He’s still only 32.

Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has confirmed his retirement from football at the age of 32. He has been without a club since leaving Villa last summer and despite working hard to improve his fitness, has not been able to find a new club.

Speaking to Free Radio at the Pride of Birmingham Awards, he said: “I haven’t made a big deal about it, by posting anything on social media about retiring, but no that’s me done.”

Agbonlahor broke into the Aston Villa first team after graduating from their academy back in 2005 and racked up over 391 appearances for the Midlands club, scoring 86 goals.

He was also awarded three England caps during the 2008/09 season during a particularly purple patch, but that was the height of his footballing achievements.

Speaking about the current Aston Villa side, who are hoping to surge back into the play-off spots in the final stretch of the season, Agbonlahor said: “The way they are playing at the moment, you know they are flying. I think if you ask every Villa fan, they’re buzzing at the moment about the team and their chances of promotion.

“The whole team’s playing with confidence and everything’s exciting. The Villa fans have been good with the team, the players have been playing really well at the moment.

“I think personally, we’ve got the squad that’s capable of coming up.”

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