Ashley Young’s retirement was something that people thought would never happen, with the former England international’s longevity taking his career well into his 30s and early 40s.
The 40-year-old has finally called time on his career; however, as an injury-hit season for Ipswich Town has only seen him play 13 times for the Tractor Boys after joining on a one-year deal from Everton.
The former England defender spent most of his career in the Premier League, apart from his spell with Inter Milan in 2020/21 and his stint this term with Ipswich.
With over 750 appearances in his career, Ashley Young’s retirement is a well-earned one, and he has left his mark on several teams that he has played for.
Ashley Young’s Retirement: Early Career
Beginning his career at Watford, Young, as an 18-year-old, made his debut for the Hornets in September 2003, after graduating from the Watford Academy.
It would be in the 2004/05 season that Young would become a regular as he became a stalwart for the seasons to come, as he won promotion to the Premier League with the Hornets in 2006.
The first half of the 2006/07 season, he spent with Watford, but Aston Villa swooped in to sign the winger/full-back in January 2007 as he made the switch to the West Midlands.
190 appearances for Aston Villa, four-and-a-half seasons, Young had a new adventure on the horizon and something that was a huge step in his career.
Ashley Young’s Retirement: The Move To Old Trafford
In the summer of 2011, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United came calling, and Young accepted the call and made the switch to Manchester for a reported £17 million.
Over the next eight-and-a-half years, Young played a key role in the Manchester United squad, but there were also seasons where he was not used as much.
Making at least 20 appearances in every one of his seasons at the Red Devils, apart from his last one, Young was a useful squad player who was utilised by all of the managers that followed after Sir Alex Ferguson.
In over 250 appearances for Manchester United, he scored 19 goals and slowly made the switch from a rapid winger/wide midfielder to a controlled full-back.
In January 2020, Young was loaned to Inter Milan, as the Englishman embarked on a journey in the Serie A.
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Ashley Young’s Retirement: The Italian Adventure
In his first half-season with Inter, he got back in amongst the goals and got so close to winning a trophy, as the Nerazzurri missed out on the UEFA Europa League trophy, falling short in the final.
However, with no trophy in his loan spell, after signing permanently for the 2020/21 season, Inter lifted the Serie A title as Young became only the third Englishman to do so.
With that being said, his Italian adventure was short-lived, as after 59 appearances in an Inter shirt, the defender would leave the club, and he landed back on English shores.
Ashley Young’s Retirement: Winding Down His Career
He returned to England with his old club, Aston Villa, as the West Midlands club picked up the defender as a free agent for the 2021/22 season.
Over two seasons, Young made 57 appearances for the Villans, who did not renew his contract at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, as he was left to look for a new club.
Another Premier League team came calling for the 2023/24 season, as Everton signed him on a one-year contract with an option for a further 12 months.
Similar to his time at Aston Villa, he spent two seasons, made 70 appearances and departed the club after his second season to move on to a new challenge, as Ashley Young’s retirement was looming.
That challenge would be Ipswich Town, which ended up being his final club, as after only 13 Championship appearances and an injury-hit campaign, he has called time on his career.
763 career appearances, 87 career goals, and 39 England caps later, Young has finally hung up his boots at the age of 40.
The winger/defender has enjoyed a fantastically long career that saw him lift trophies for Watford, Manchester United and Inter Milan, as Ashley Young’s retirement sees him bow out from the sport as a true Premier League legend.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / News Images
Recording Date: 10.02.2024
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