Ex-Rangers star's career end diagnosis was a blow, even if he was prepared for it

Lewis Macleod was prepared for surgeons to tell him his career was over at 28... but says the shock of being forced to retire is a hammer blow.

The former Rangers ace says he did everything he could to stay in the game, but surgeons ultimately told him it was time up.

While the Newmains man is happy he was able to give his career the best shot he could, he has been remarkably unlucky with injuries over the 10-year span which also included spells at Brentford, Wigan Athletic and Plymouth Argyle down south.

That eventually took its toll, and the midfielder who started out at in the game with his local youth team Newmains Hammers, is now looking to get into coaching as he prepares for a new chapter.

He told Lanarkshire Live Sport : “It was difficult but I think in a sense I had almost prepared myself for it.

“It didn’t totally take my by surprise, it was just that I never thought it would happen this quickly.

“But at the same time I’ve had my fair share of long-term injuries.

“I wouldn’t say I expected it, but I definitely prepared myself for this to happen, sooner than normally.

Macleod says he gave his career everything he had, but injuries massively hampered him (SNS Group)

“I tried everything I could to get back fit, but it was the specialist who basically said ‘we’ve tried everything we can unless I try another surgery but you’re not guaranteed that it’s going to change anything at all’.

“I just took the decision. Well, they took it out of my hands, kind of, and they just said ‘hang up the boots’.

“It’s one of those things.”

Macleod appeared to be struck down with injuries just as he was hitting his stride at Rangers, where he spent two-and-a-half years and won the Third Division title in 2012/13 and League One in 2013/14.

Despite earning moves away from Ibrox, injures ranging from hamstring, to ACL, heart defect and other knee knocks prevented him reaching his full potential.

Spells at Brentford and Wigan Athletic followed for Macleod after his Ibrox exit, but they were injury-hit, too (Wigan FC)

“I haven’t had a lot of luck with injuries and they’ve come at bad times, as well,” he said.

“Even since I left Rangers I spent 18 months on the side-lines when I first signed for Brentford, and then I got back playing.

“After about 10 games I tore my ACL, so it the space of two years I was out for 18 months, and then I was looking at being out for another 12 to 16 months with an ACL.

“That period of time, looking back to it, was quite tough, but it was definitely harder to come back and be confident about playing and stuff after spending that amount of time injured.

“I’m definitely happy that I got a shot at it, but at the same time nobody likes to get injured, especially long-term injuries.

“The timings of when I picked mine up never helped. There’s never a good time to pick up a long-term injury, but in my case it wasn’t the best.

Macleod has spent months in rehab following his time at Plymouth Argyle, and hopes now to move into coaching (Getty Images)

“But I wouldn’t say I’m bitter. I gave it all I could, but at the same time some people are just injury-prone or more susceptible to injuries, and that seemed to be the case for me.”

When asked what the future holds for him, Macleod said: “I’m actually not too sure.

“I’ve always liked the thought of going into coaching and stuff, but I’ve literally spent the last 18 months since I stopped playing at Plymouth just focusing on rehab and trying to get back fit.

“It’s something I’ll definitely look into but at this moment in time I’m not quite sure.

“I’ll see what happens. I’ll try to do my badges as quickly as I can, and take it from there.”

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