Jack Wilshere has hailed “fantastic” Eddie Howe following his shock retirement from football. Despite emerging as one of England’s brightest prospects a decade ago, the former Arsenal midfielder has called quits on his playing days at 30-years-old.
Injuries derailed a promising career, with Wilshere making just 50 appearances since 2018. A brief stint at Danish side Aarhus Gymnastikforening this year was unsuccessful and he was released when his contract expired last week.
Newcastle United boss Howe - whose own playing career was cut short through injury - briefly reinvigorated the midfielder when he signed him on loan ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. Wilshere made 27 top-flight appearances that year as the Cherries finished ninth - their highest ever league position.
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The ex-England star has often praised the Magpies boss when working as a pundit and paid tribute to him in an emotional retirement message. Wilshere thanked Howe for believing in him “when he needed it most” almost six years ago.
"Today I am announcing my retirement from playing professional football,” he wrote. “It has been an unbelievable journey filled with so many incredible moments and I feel privileged to have experienced all that I did during my career From being the little boy kicking a ball around in the garden to captaining my beloved Arsenal and playing for my country at a World Cup. I have lived my dream. In truth, it has been difficult to accept that my career has been slipping away in recent times due to reasons outside of my control whilst feeling that I have still had so much to give.
"A huge thank you to the board, management and everyone else connected with Arsenal FC. Having joined the club at the age of 7 years old you've become my extended family and thank you for everything. Thank you to all of the other coaches from my senior career and with a special thank you to Roy Hodgson and Eddie Howe. Both of whom are fantastic managers that showed belief in me at critical points in my career and when I needed it most.”
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