Premier League title winner announces retirement at 35 after career that saw him achieve unmatched feat
ANDY KING, who famously won the Premier League title with Leicester, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.
The Bristol City midfielder will play the final match of his career on Saturday when The Robins take on Stoke.
King, a boyhood Bristol City fan, is out of contract with the Championship club at the end of the season.
And on Friday he confirmed he is hanging up his boots, saying: “I’ve absolutely loved my three years here.
“It was an absolute honour to have play for this football club, one that I’ve spent many years watching, coming to the games as a child.
“To be able to pull on the shirt and walk out at Ashton Gate with my own family, my own children, is so special.
“I wanted my last game to be in a Bristol City shirt and I think that’s the perfect way for me to go out.”
King achieved an unprecedented feat at Leicester, winning the League One, Championship and Premier League titles.
He is the first and only player to manage this with the same team since the Premier League was formed in 1992.
King, who featured in 25 of Leicester’s 38 league games in their triumphant 2015/16 campaign, also earned 50 caps for Wales and was a part of the squad which reached the semi-finals at Euro 2016.
As well as Leicester and Bristol City, he also featured on loan for Swansea, Derby, Rangers and Huddersfield.
He will retire with more than 450 club appearances to his name – 17 of which have come this season for Bristol City.
King, who took a player-coach role with the second-tier side last summer, received a touching tribute from former Leicester team-mate James Maddison.
The Tottenham playmaker said: “Happy retirement to a legend. Top player & top person.
“One of a kind & someone I can proudly call my friend. Enjoy mate.”
Bristol City boss Liam Manning added: “He has had an incredible career and what he has achieved in the game is extraordinary.
“The impact he has had on the dressing room and the young players at the club is invaluable, and his presence will be missed by everybody.”