Danny Drinkwater, a 33-year-old former Burnley loanee, has announced his retirement from football.
Ever since departing Reading in the summer of 2022, the midfield player has not featured on any pitch.
Drinkwater said in an interview with the High Performance podcast that it was time to hang up the boots and put a stop to the “limbo.”
“I think it’s time to officially announce it now, but I think it’s probably been a long time coming, especially with the last year,” he remarked.
“Saying it then feels a little bit like picking at a nerve, even though I didn’t think it would bother me.”
“I believe I was prepared for it because I didn’t stop at my best and because it has somewhat subsided, which has made the adjustment easier.
“I feel like I’ve been in limbo for far too long; I’ve either wanted to play but haven’t had the chance to do so at a level that makes me feel important.”
I’m happy not playing football, but I’m also pleased playing it, so should I just shake hands with the sport because I’m restless here for no apparent reason?
It was never going to be simple; it’s all I’ve ever known and has been my life since I was six or seven years old.
The way it has subsided, in my opinion, has been quite beneficial. It would probably be more difficult if I had to stop playing because of an injury or ageing while I was playing every week.
“I’ve received a lot of offers from Championship teams, but it didn’t do anything for me and I never felt the burn.”
Although Drinkwater went through Manchester United’s academy, he never played for the team in a competitive match.
Nonetheless, he did play on loan for Watford, Barnsley, Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, and Watford.
He rose to prominence with Leicester City, first assisting them in their 2014 Premier League promotion and then playing a significant role in their incredible two-year title victory.
Drinkwater was offered a lucrative transfer to Chelsea as a result, however the deal fell through, and he was ultimately sent on loan to Burnley for the 2019–20 campaign.
Drinkwater made just two appearances for the Clarets during his disastrous loan stint before his contract was terminated in January.
He was sidelined for three months while he healed from wounds he received in an incident outside a nightclub in Manchester.
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