Well, in a move that left many scratching their heads and others asking, “Who’s Drinkwater?” – Danny Drinkwater, the Premier League title winner with Leicester City, has decided to call it quits. This decision comes after he spent what he calls “too long in limbo” since his release from Chelsea last year.
The 33-year-old footballer made the announcement with a mix of relief and nostalgia, saying, “I’d just like to announce my retirement from professional football. It’s probably been a long time coming, especially with the last year, but I think it’s time to officially announce it now.” Yep, he’s admitting it: Drinkwater hasn’t been the football world’s center of attention lately.
“I didn’t think it would bother me, but saying it then it’s almost like scratching a nerve a bit. I think I’ve been ready for it, not stopping at my peak, and it’s simmered down a bit. That’s helped the transition.”
After a career filled with ups and downs, including a brief stint at Chelsea, he confessed, “I think I’ve been in limbo for too long; I’ve either been wanting to play but not getting the opportunities to play at a level where I felt valued.”
He went on to say, “I just thought I’m restless here for no reason; I’m happy not playing football, but I’m happy playing football, so do I just shake hands with the sport? It’s all I’ve known; it’s been my life since I was six or seven. It was never going to be an easy thing.”
Drinkwater admitted that the way his football career “died down” helped in the decision-making process. “If I were playing week in and week out and had to stop through injury or age, I think it would be trickier. I’ve had quite a few offers from championship clubs, but I never felt the burn; it did nothing for me.”
His journey in the world of football started at Manchester United’s academy, but he never made a senior appearance for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. Instead, he went on loan spells to Huddersfield, Cardiff, Watford, and Barnsley. But it was his move to Leicester in 2012 that marked the turning point in his career.
Drinkwater played a pivotal role in Leicester’s astonishing Premier League title success under Claudio Ranieri in the 2015-16 season, featuring in 35 of their 38 league games. Despite this, he only managed to earn three caps for the England national team.
A big-money move to Chelsea followed, but it didn’t work out as planned, thanks in part to injuries. He departed from Stamford Bridge in June 2022, and earlier this year, he hinted at a potential move to Saudi Arabia or a return to Leicester. However, it seems those plans fell through, and Drinkwater has decided to hang up his boots.
So, here’s to Danny Drinkwater – a career filled with highs, lows, and maybe a few unanswered transfer calls from Saudi Arabia. Cheers to his retirement!
