MX23RW : Wednesday, May 1 22:00:57| >> :600:441074:441074:

Swansea City legend Leon Britton announces retirement

Long-serving Swansea City midfielder Leon Britton is to retire from playing at the end of the season due to a number of minor injury problems.

Leon Britton may have played his final game for Swansea City after announcing his intention to retire at the end of the season.

The 35-year-old hinted earlier this year that he would make a decision on his future towards the end of the campaign, having been used just five times in all competitions this term.

Britton will bow out of the Liberty Stadium with legendary status, with 536 appearances under his belt since arriving in South Wales from West Ham United in 2002, and he is in contention to feature against Stoke City this weekend.

Speaking to the Swans' official website, the central midfielder said: "I have decided that this year will be my last as a Swans player. It's a sad day obviously, but this season has been very difficult for me. I have had a lot of niggling injuries and I haven't played a lot when I have been fit.

"I have pushed my body through a lot, playing with injuries and injections and what have you over the years, and I think now is the right time. I probably could play on, but this year on the first day of pre-season I did my calf in the warm-up. That kind of set the tone for the season.

"I don't want to spend another year in the physio room and not playing. If I am being honest it's been difficult this year and my body is telling me to stop."

Britton, who played a part in Swansea's rise from League Two to the Premier League, spent time in caretaker charge prior to Carlos Carvalhal's appointment in December.

ID:325647: cacheID:325647:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2364:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Carlos Carvalhal arrives for the Premier League game between Swansea City and Liverpool on January 22, 2018
Read Next:
Carvalhal to leave Swansea in summer?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester453141089395097
2Ipswich TownIpswich452712690573393
3Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
4Southampton452591185622384
5Norwich CityNorwich4521101479631673
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4520121367472072
7Hull City451913136859970
8Middlesbrough45199176861766
9Coventry CityCoventry4517131569571264
10Preston North EndPreston45189185664-863
11Bristol City451711175347662
12Cardiff CityCardiff45195215165-1462
13Swansea CitySwansea451512185964-557
14Watford451317156058256
15Sunderland45168215252056
16Millwall451511194455-1156
17Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
18Stoke CityStoke451411204560-1553
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn451311215874-1650
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds45148234268-2650
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth451212215870-1248
22Birmingham CityBirmingham451211224965-1647
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield45918184875-2745
RRotherham UnitedRotherham45412293287-5524


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!