O’Shea’s announcement comes on his 38th birthday
Former Manchester United defender John O’Shea has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
O’Shea played for United over 250 times after graduating from the club’s academy system. He left in 2011 for Sunderland, staying at the Stadium of Light until last summer when he departed for Reading on a one-year deal.
The Irishman won five Premier League titles and the Champions League while at Old Trafford. He was also capped 118 times by his national side.
His retirement was confirmed by a tweet from Reading.
‘A fabulous playing career is coming to a close,’ the tweet read. ‘Today, on his 38th birthday, John O’Shea has announced he is to retire at the end of the season.’
A fabulous playing career is coming to a close – today, on his 38th birthday, John O’Shea has announced he is to retire at the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/Pmlu3b9xXx
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) April 30, 2019
Many football fans have congratulated O’Shea on his career since the announcement was made, with United supporters fondly remembering his late winner against Liverpool at Anfield in 2007 and the time he nutmegged Luis Figo during a 2003 Champions League encounter with Real Madrid.
Plenty of United fans also joked that O’Shea may now seal an instant return to Old Trafford admin rumours the club are seeking to employ former players as part of a staffing restructure this summer.
Earlier on Tuesday, his former teammate Rio Ferdinand was the latest to be linked with a sporting director role at United, with Mike Phelan and Darren Fletcher also reportedly being lined up for positions.
The reaction to the news was an inevitable one:
So John O’Shea will officially be retiring from football at the end of the season. I’ll give it a week before he’s linked with a move back to Manchester United as some sort of director/ scout etc.
— Retro United (@Retro_Utd) April 30, 2019
Hearing John O'Shea is the next in line for talks about becoming Manchester United technical director.
More to follow..
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) April 30, 2019
John O'Shea has retired as a player…bet he's the next one to be linked as United's Director of Football #MUFC
— Coggie (@coggie99) April 30, 2019
Next interviewee for Technical Director will be John O'Shea then 🙄
— Ryan (@TheRealRYAN1987) April 30, 2019
How long before John O’Shea gets linked with the sporting director role? 😁
— Stretty News (@StrettyNews) April 30, 2019
