After an 18-year career that includes a successful two-year stint at Ibrox, the 34-year-old has decided to retire.
Martyn Waghorn, a former forward for Rangers, Sunderland, and Derby County, confirmed his retirement from professional football after an 18-year career in an emotional statement.
After playing in 527 games across all competitions and earning five caps for the England under-21 team, Waghorn, who left for Northampton Town in December after just 46 days, concluded his career last night. He expressed his pride in wearing the shirt of each club he represented.
Waghorn posted the following message on social media: “Football. It’s been an amazing adventure. Throughout my career, I’ve had the good fortune to support numerous fantastic clubs, and I’ve never taken it for granted. Ipswich Town, Derby County, Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, Northampton Town, Millwall, Wigan Athletic, Charlton Athletic, Leicester City, Hull City and Rangers. Wearing the shirt of each of these outstanding clubs makes me proud.
Making my family proud was my only goal every time I on the pitch. I will always treasure the moments I have made with friends and family. I appreciate everyone at Sunderland giving me the chance to play. From the time I was seven years old until my debut at 17, thank you all.
“It has always been an honour to represent my country at different age groups, and scoring on my England U21 debut was such a proud moment.” I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has helped and encouraged me along the journey. I want to thank all of the wonderful academy coaches who assisted me during my time there, including Elliot Dickman, Ged McNamee, and Kevin Ball. It’s been a journey, the friends and individuals I’ve met along the road.
“Thank you, family. Sincerely, without all of you, I don’t know where I would be. I want to thank my parents for everything they have done for me. It has been an incredible trip, beginning with Boldon Colts with you, dad. Enzo, Leoni, and Ruben. The amount of gratitude I have for having you in my career is beyond words. I will always treasure the wonderful times and memories I have shared with you.
Waghorn felt the chance to join Rangers was “too good an opportunity to turn down” when he signed on the same day as James Tavernier. Waghorn later played with Rangers for two seasons, scoring 28 league goals while assisting the team in winning the Scottish Championship and Scottish Challenge Cup. In 2016, he was voted the team’s player of the year.
The English forward left the team in the summer of 2017 after former Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha decided to accept a £1 million offer from Ipswich Town, a decision that drew criticism from some quarters. Waghorn opened up about his Old Firm derby experience after leaving Scotland, stating that “there is nothing like it.”
“I can’t even begin to describe the sense of intensity the game creates in the ten or so days before it, even though I know rivalries are rivalries and people will hate each other on game day. It’s basically blatant rivalry and genuine animosity for one another. Rangers-Celtic and the Old Firm differ significantly in how long theresult and the build up lingers for – it’s months and months,” he reflected.”
The South Shields star expressed his excitement for the next phase of his life and profession as a husband and father when he announced his retirement. Thank you.
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