Fulham midfielder Scott Parker has confirmed to Sky Sports that he has retired from the professional game. It brings to an end an illustrious playing career which ran across just under 19 years, during which he won a Premier League title and a Football Writers’ Player of the Year Award.
It won’t come as a huge surprise to Fulham fans that the veteran has decided to end his playing career. His game down has started to significantly dwindle in recent times, making mostly substitute appearances across the 31 matches he played for the Cottagers last season. Parker today released a lengthy statement, also stating he’ll soon be making an announcement over his next move.
The Lambeth-born player also captained the England national team too, after making his name with Charlton Athletic. It was his impressive showings at The Valley which led to Chelsea snapping him up for a big fee. After struggling to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, he headed off to Newcastle United, where he again impressed enough for West Ham to snap him up. A two-year spell at Spurs followed, before linking up with Fulham in 2013, which is where he ended his playing career.
He revealed the decision itself to retire from the game ‘has not been an easy one’ but does believe that now ‘is the right time to move on to the next chapter’.
In Parker’s statement, he also touched upon feeling ‘honoured and proud’ to have had the playing career he had and ‘loved every minute of it’. Speaking of a few of his personal highlights, he looked towards making his first-team debut at Charlton, playing in the Champions League and representing England in a major tournament, and of course captaining England, as big moments.
