Ex-Arsenal star Theo Walcott goes shirtless in board shorts as he relaxes with bikini-clad wife Melanie in Antigua – after retiring from football

Theo Walcott went shirtless with his wife Melanie in Antigua on Friday.

The former footballer, 34, announced his retirement from the sport last summer and is now enjoying some free time with his wife.

He was spotted sunbathing with his wife Melanie, 35, and playing football on the beach during their sun-soaked holiday.

For the fun beach day, Theo showed off his toned body and intricate tattoos while going shirtless in black board shorts.

His wife Melanie showed off her incredible figure in a mint green bikini as she relaxed on her lounger before enjoying a dip in the sea.

She shielded her eyes with oversized sunglasses and appeared jovial as she paddled in the sea with a big smile.

Although he has retired from football, Theo jumped into a fast-paced match on the beach as he showed off his skills.

Theo and Melanie married in a romantic ceremony in Italy in 2013 and share two sons Finley, nine, and Arlo, seven.

Last summer, Theo announced his retirement from the sport after playing regularly in the Premier League since 2006.

The England forward made the decision at the age of 34 to hang up his football boots and explore other avenues outside the sport.

In September he made his debut as a pundit for Sky Sports Super Sunday and admitted life after football is 'scary' when he appeared on screen.

He said: 'You don't withdraw from life and now I feel like the world has opened up and I want to go on adventures and try new things. It's exciting but scary.

“I'd be lying if I said it was good.”

Theo started his career at Southampton before making the high-profile move to Arsenal in January 2006 at the age of 16.

He was then sensationally called up to Sven Goran Eriksson's England World Cup squad for the tournament in Germany, without even making a first-team appearance for the Gunners.

He became the youngest player to play for the Three Lions when he made his debut against Hungary in May 2006 at the age of 17 years and 75 days. It would be the first of 47 caps he would win for his country, scoring eight goals.

After making his Arsenal bow that same year, Theo made almost 400 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 108 goals and winning three FA Cups with the club.

Theo left North London in 2017 to move to Everton, before returning to his first club Southampton three years later.

However, after three final seasons at St Mary's and following the Saints' relegation to the Championship, Walcott decided to end it.

In total, he played 564 matches in his professional career and scored 129 goals.

Theo also tied the knot with his wife Melanie in 2013 and they welcomed their first child, Finley, the following year.

The parents went through a terrifying experience when Finley was born, when the little boy had to undergo surgery at eight weeks old to correct a heart defect.

'When he was born, he was so small. He was born two weeks early, which isn't that bad, but when they did a routine check they discovered he had a murmur on his heart,” Melanie previously said.

'It may be normal at first, but after 24 hours it should go away on its own, but it didn't. That's when they knew something was going on in the heart.”

Fortunately, Finley made a full recovery and about two years later the couple welcomed their second child Arlo.

Melanie previously revealed that she informed Theo on his 27th birthday that she was pregnant with their second child.

She told Hello! magazine at the time: 'The timing was so special, the fact that it was his birthday. I knew this was the best gift he could have asked for.

'Theo is a real family man and a great father. He and Finley have so much fun together.”