This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
Published on July 12, 2019, Peter Crouch, a former England striker, has announced his retirement from football after a successful career spanning over two decades.
Crouch, who played for several top-tier clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Stoke City, spent last season at Burnley before his contract ended in June 2019.
During his international career, Crouch was capped 42 times by England between 2005 and 2010, scoring 22 goals and appearing at two World Cups. He also reached the Champions League final and won the FA Cup at Liverpool.
Reflecting on his career, Crouch wrote on Twitter, "If you told me at 17 I’d play in World Cups, get to a Champions League final, win the FA Cup and get 100 Premier League goals, I would have avoided you at all costs."
He added, "It’s been an absolute dream come true. Our wonderful game has given me everything. I’m so thankful to everyone who helped me get there and helped me stay there for so long."
Crouch had hoped to continue his playing career but found it difficult to accept a bit-part role, stating, "My ambition was to play until I was 40, so it is scary saying the word ‘retirement’."
He expressed his concerns about being relegated to a limited role, saying, "To go from being a regular starter to someone whose role is limited to 10 or 15 minutes off the bench has been hard to accept."
