Kyle Walker announced his retirement from England duty last week and revealed his plans for the final year of his trophy-laden career.
Kyle Walker has one year left on his contract at Burnley (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Kyle Walker admits he doesn’t know when he will retire from football, but he does know which club he would like to play for again before he retires. Walker, 35, announced last week that he was ending his career as an England international and retiring from international football.
The Burnley star won 96 caps and represented the Three Lions in five major tournaments, three European Championships and two World Cups. Walker’s last appearance for England came in a 3-1 home defeat to Senegal in June, after which he lost his place under manager Thomas Tuchel.
After spending the second half of last season on loan at Italian giants AC Milan, Walker left Manchester City after nine glorious years to join Burnley on a two-year deal following promotion to the Premier League. The six-time Premier League winner has played 28 times for Scott Parker’s side and is enjoying his time in Lancashire.
In an interview with The Overlap’s Gary Neville, Walker was asked about his retirement plans and revealed he “dreams” of returning to his boyhood club Sheffield United. The right-back signed for Tottenham in 2009 after coming through the Blades’ academy.
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“I’d like to continue playing for a few more years,” Walker explained. “It was always my dream to play for Sheffield United again. I started at Sheffield United when I was six years old and left when I was 19, so I spent an unbelievable number of years there.
“I want to play for them again. I don’t know when that will be. I don’t know if they’ll need me.”
United have endured a tough season in the Championship but will be hoping to challenge for promotion next season when manager Chris Wilder returns. “I feel great,” Walker said ahead of turning 36 in May.
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Kyle Walker came through the ranks at Sheffield United (Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
But what makes it more difficult is the mental aspect of the game. “If you can keep at it, you can fight little battles in your head,” Walker added.
“I don’t want to tarnish what I’ve done, but I also have respect for myself that I’m trying to do it on my own terms. I’m not going to let external noise reflect what I want to do as a footballer, because a footballer’s career is short and people don’t understand that.
“I don’t know if I’m going to keep playing for a few more years. I think if there comes a point in your head where you think it’s over, you have to be honest with yourself. Let’s get out of the game before we get out of the game.”
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