Jermain Defoe has taken to social media to confirm that he is retiring from professional football after 22 years in the game.
Defoe scored 143 goals as well as provided 32 assists in 362 appearances in all competitions in two spells at Tottenham Hotspur (Transfermarkt), with the striker being the club’s sixth-highest scorer of all time.
The 39-year-old, who had also bagged 20 goals for England, completed a fairytale return to League One side, Sunderland in January, penning a contract until the end of the season.
However, reports emerged earlier this week that the striker was set to announce his retirement with immediate effect (The Sun).
That has now come to pass, with Defoe taking to social media to post an emotional message, thanking fans for the love has received through his career and admitting that the memories will live with him forever.
— Jermain Defoe OBE (@IAmJermainDefoe) March 24, 2022
Tottenham responded to the striker’s announcement, labelling Defoe a ‘legend’ of the game.
A legend of the game. Congratulations on an inspirational career, @IAmJermainDefoe. 👏💙
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 24, 2022
Spurs Web Opinion
Defoe is the only footballer who was still in the game from the era when I first became a Spurs fan. So, his retirement hits harder than others’. I hope that the 39-year-old comebacks to Tottenham in a coaching capacity as there is no one better for the young strikers in the academy to learn from when it comes to finishing.