Title winner Leicester City announces retirement three years after last game

Leicester City title winner Danny Simpson has officially announced his retirement almost three years after his last professional appearance.

The right-back, an integral presence in City’s backline since 2016, called time on his career to “focus on other projects”. He briefly represented non-league Macclesfield over the winter, but his last professional game was against Bristol City in October 2021.

The 37-year-old has worked as a pundit for MUTV in recent years, covering boyhood club Manchester United. He also returned to Carrington last year to begin work on his coaching badges.

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Simpson played more than 400 games in his career, including 133 for City, where he was the starting right-back for their incredible title success after Claudio Ranieri swapped him for Ritchie De Laet. He left the club as a free agent in 2019 after losing his place to Ricardo Pereira.

Writing on Instagram, Simpson said: “It’s the day every footballer knows will eventually come and the one nobody wants to happen, but it’s time to announce my retirement from the game we all love so much.

“Although it’s a day I never wanted to come and it’s been a while since I’ve played, I know it’s time to hang up my boots and focus on other projects. I have so much to be grateful for, football has given me so much and I have so many people to thank. My friends, my teammates and my family who had to put up with me. Thank you.

“When I look back on my career, the obvious highlight will be that unforgettable moment with Leicester City when I achieved what almost everyone thought was impossible. 5000-1 odds and I did it.

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

“Playing any minutes of pro football was the goal when I was a teenager. To play over 400 games, win trophies and make lifelong friends, I dare not wish for more.”

Fellow title winners Andy King, Wes Morgan, Marc Albrighton, Nathan Dyer and Demarai Gray were among those to congratulate Simpson on his career. Hamza Choudhury, Kasey McAteer, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Paul Konchesky and Harry Maguire were also among the well-wishers.

Simpson is the fourth City title winner to retire in the last 12 months, following Danny Drinkwater, Shinji Okazaki and King. It means less than half of the regular 11 from that season are still playing.

Jamie Vardy is the last man standing at City, while Kasper Schmeichel is at Celtic, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante are in Saudi Arabia and Albrighton is currently unattached after leaving the King Power Stadium. Regular replacements Gray, Jeff Schlupp and Daniel Amartey are also active.

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