Former Premier League winner announces his retirement from football aged 37… and claims ‘playing with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney’ was a ‘dream come true’

A former Premier League defender has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37.

The right-back played for nine different clubs in the Premier League and EFL during his 18-year career.

But he will be best known for being part of the Leicester City team that won the Premier League title in remarkable style in 2016.

The player in question made 133 appearances for the Foxes, including 32 during the famous season under Claudio Ranieri.

In December 2023 he joined non-league club Macclesfield, but has since called time on his career.

In a lengthy statement, Danny Simpson wrote: ‘It’s the day every footballer knows will come and no one wants it to come, but the time has come to announce my retirement from the game we all love.

‘Although it’s a day I never wanted to go to and it’s been a while since I’ve played, I know it’s time to stop and focus on other projects.

‘I have so much to be thankful for, football has given me so much and I have so many people to thank. My friends, my teammates and my family who put up with me LOL. Thank you.

‘I was kicking a ball around as a toddler in Salford and then I played for my first amateur team at Eccles – Parkwyddn Juniors. All I ever wanted to do was play football.

‘Getting picked up by Manchester United was a dream come true for me. My local team, the club that everyone in Salford loves, meant the world to me and my family. The hairs on the back of my neck still stand up when I think about my Old Trafford debut. Playing alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney – it was beyond my wildest dreams.

‘When I look back on my career, the highlight is undoubtedly the unforgettable period at Leicester City, when we achieved what almost everyone thought was impossible. We were quoted at 5000/1 and we did it.

‘Winning the Premier League title in 2016 was everything. The camaraderie that still exists with that team will stay with us forever. Vichai built something very special at Leicester and to be on that journey and bring Champions League football to the city was special.’

Simpson added: “There are too many people to thank individually. I’ve been fortunate enough to play for some fantastic football clubs and managers and enjoy some great success. Yes, there have been bad times but they are outweighed by the good.

‘To all my managers, coaches, technical staff, medical staff, receptionists, security, bus drivers, there are so many people working hard at every club, I can’t thank you enough.

‘As a teenager, the goal was to play minutes in professional football. Playing more than 400 games, winning trophies and making friends for life, that’s all I could have wished for.

‘Finally, as the great Sir Matt Busby said, football without fans is nothing. So to all the fans of all the clubs I’ve pulled on the shirt for, thank you for your support. We’ve had good days and bad days, but knowing you were there for us meant everything.

‘I’m finally looking forward to what the future holds.’

Simpson came through the ranks of Manchester United, playing eight games for the club, and was also loaned to Royal Antwerp, Sunderland, Ipswich and Blackburn.

In 2009 he joined Newcastle and helped them to promotion to the Premier League in his first season with the Magpies.

Four years later, Simpson moved to QPR, but he only stayed there for one season before leaving for Leicester in 2014.

After leaving the Foxes in 2019, the defender played for Huddersfield, Bristol City and Macclesfield last season.