MX23RW : Monday, April 29 05:54:00| >> :600:254702:254702:

Former Reading captain Jobi McAnuff announces retirement

Former Reading captain Jobi McAnuff announces retirement
© Getty Images
The midfielder took charge of Leyton Orient's final 16 fixtures this season while also still playing.

Jobi McAnuff has retired from professional football after leaving his role as Leyton Orient player-manager.

The former Jamaica international announced his decision following the O's 3-0 loss at Salford on Saturday, which saw them finish the season in 11th place.

McAnuff had taken charge of Orient's final 16 fixtures while also playing in midfield and now brings an end to a professional career which started at Wimbledon in 2000.

The 39-year-old, who captained Reading to promotion to the Premier League nine years ago, featured in the top five divisions of English football and played for West Ham, Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Watford, Stevenage and Orient in two separate spells.

In a statement on Instagram, McAnuff, who also represented Jamaica on 32 occasions, said: "After 20 seasons and nearly 800 career games, the time has finally come to announce my retirement.

"It's been a tough decision but my body and mind have finally had enough of the rigours of day to day football and I definitely feel now is the right time to hang the boots up.

"I've put in a lot of work over the last few years to make sure I was as prepared as I could be for this day and I look forward confidently and excitedly to the next phase of my professional life."

McAnuff's final playing appearance was during Orient's 3-2 home defeat to Carlisle on May 1, almost 20 years after his Wimbledon debut against Norwich on August 25, 2001 in the old First Division.

The O's confirmed they have started the process of finding a new manager, with director of football Martin Ling in contact with potential candidates.

A statement read: "The club's search for a replacement manager will focus on candidates with experience in management at both League Two and League One level as we undertake a programme of rebuilding the squad with the ambition of achieving promotion next season."

ID:446805: cacheID:446805:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2790:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jobi McAnuff of Leyton Orient looks to get past Jordan Turnball of Swindon during the Sky Bet League One match between Leyton Orient and Swindon Town at The Matchroom Stadium on October 04, 2014
Read Next:
McAnuff: 'Lack of chances for black managers is extra incentive'
>
Read more about Jobi McAnuff Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CStockport CountyStockport462711896484892
4MK Dons462391483681578
5Doncaster RoversDoncaster46218177368571
6Crewe AlexandraCrewe461914136965471
7Crawley TownCrawley46217187367670
8BarrowBarrow461815136256669
9Bradford CityBradford461912156159269
10AFC Wimbledon4617141564511365
11Walsall461811176973-465
12Gillingham461810184657-1164
13Harrogate TownHarrogate461712176069-963
14Notts County46187218986361
15Morecambe461710196781-1458
16Tranmere RoversTranmere46176236770-357
17Accrington StanleyAccrington46169216371-857
18Newport CountyNewport46167236276-1455
19Swindon TownSwindon461412207783-654
20Salford City461312216682-1651
21Grimsby Town461116195774-1749
22Colchester UnitedColchester461112235980-2145
RSutton UnitedSutton46915225984-2542
RForest Green RoversForest Green46119264478-3442


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!