Former England star who holds an impressive Premier League record  makes surprise decision to come out of retirement four years after hanging up his boots

A former England international has made the surprise decision to come out of retirement, four years after ending his football career.

The star, who has made more than 600 Premier League appearances and 53 caps for England, is now 43 and retired from football in August 2020.

During his long active football career he played for four different clubs in the Premier League.

He also won the Premier League title once, on the famous day when Sergio Agüero spectacularly delivered the Premier League title to Manchester City.

The player in question is Gareth Barry, who holds the Premier League record for most appearances with 653 appearances.

Barry comes out of retirement to play for amateur team Hurstpierpoint, who play in the Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid Sussex Football League.

Hurstpierpoint said Barry’s quality in training was “unreal” and said he had a long-standing connection with the village through his friend and club coach Michael Standing.

Barry and Standing signed from Brighton to Aston Villa on the same day in 1997, with Standing later becoming his agent.

During his distinguished career, Barry won the Premier League title with Manchester City in the 2011–12 season and subsequently played for Everton and West Bromwich Albion.

Barry played in the Premier League for four clubs, including Manchester City

Barry also played 53 international matches for England, scoring three goals.

Although Barry holds the record for most international appearances with 653 games, he could soon be overtaken by his former Manchester City team-mate James Milner, who has made 634 appearances in the top division.

On the international stage, Barry played for England between 2000 and 2012.