The professional football Danny Drinkwater, the 33-year-old midfielder who gained prominence as one of the key figures in Leicester’s unexpected Premier League victory in 2016, has officially declared his retirement from professional football. Following this remarkable achievement, he secured a high-profile transfer to Chelsea in the subsequent summer.
Nevertheless, his time at Stamford Bridge did not see him establish himself as a regular first-choice player. Instead, it was marked by unsuccessful loan stints at Burnley and Aston Villa, coupled with disciplinary issues that tarnished his career.
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Some of his off-field incidents included a guilty plea for driving under the influence after a car crash in 2019, an ankle injury sustained in an incident outside a nightclub later that same year, and a training ground altercation where he head-butted then-Aston Villa teammate Jota in March 2020.
His last competitive appearances came during a loan spell at Reading in the 2021-22 season, after which his contract with Chelsea expired.
Speaking on the High-Performance Podcast, Drinkwater expressed his decision, saying, “It’s been a long time coming maybe, especially with the last year, but I think it’s time to officially announce it now. I think I’ve been in limbo for too long. I’ve been wanting to play but not getting the opportunity to play at a standard or a level where I felt valued.
I’m happy not playing football, but I’m happy playing football, so do I just shake hands with the sport? It’s all I’ve known. It’s been my life since I was six or seven years old. It was never going to be an easy thing. If I was playing week in, week out and I had to say I’ve got to stop, maybe through injury or just age, not being able to get about the pitch like I’d like to, I think it would be trickier.”
Danny Drinkwater’s Journey as A Player
Danny Drinkwater journey in professional football began at the Manchester United academy, although he did not make a first-team appearance for the club before making a significant move to Leicester in 2012. His international career saw him earn his first call-up to the England squad in March 2016, resulting in three appearances. However, he was one of three players omitted from the squad for that year’s European Championships.
Danny Drinkwater later signed for Chelsea football club after a successful time at Leicester City, while at Chelsea he was sent out on loans, and he played for clubs like Burnley and Aston Villa.
