CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Former Wales and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey announced his retirement from football on Tuesday.
Ramsey, 35, has not been with the club since. He left Mexican team Pumas last year. After a short period of action in which he missed league matches and several training sessions due to injury, his lost dog.
“This was not an easy decision to make. After much consideration, I have decided to retire from football.” Ramsey said in a statement: He also thanked Wales supporters and the clubs he represented during his career.
Ramsey is regarded as one of Wales’ greatest players, scoring 21 goals in 86 appearances and representing Wales in three major tournaments.
In 2016, he helped Wales reach the European Championship semi-finals, but lost to eventual champions Portugal. His last cap was in 2024.
Ramsey sat out the recent World Cup playoffs against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The loss in that match ended his hopes of a grand finale on the biggest stage.
“It was my privilege to wear the Wales shirt and experience so many great moments,” he said. “None of this would have been possible without the great cooperation of all the managers I have played with and all the staff who have helped me in various ways.
“To the Red Wall. You’ve been there through the hard times and the bad times! You’ve been there through the good times and the bad, and you’ve been an essential and integral part of our success. We can’t thank you enough. We’ve been through it all together, and it was an honor to represent you.”
Ramsey started his career at Cardiff and moved to Arsenal in 2008. There he won three FA Cups in 11 seasons, scoring the winning goal in two of those finals.
He then had spells at Juventus and Nice before returning to Cardiff in 2023, having a brief stint as interim coach last season before joining Pumas in July.
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