NewsJon Flanagan announces retirement from football

Flanagan graduated through the ranks of the Reds’ Academy to make his senior debut for the club under Sir Kenny Dalglish in April 2011.

That landmark moment for the full-back came in a 3-0 victory over Manchester City at Anfield and he went on to feature on 16 more occasions during the two years that followed.

It was in 2013-14 that Flanagan reached his greatest heights in the Liverpool shirt, as he established himself as a regular figure in the Brendan Rodgers team that went so close to winning the Premier League title.

Deployed predominantly on the left side of defence, he made 23 top-flight appearances – and scored one goal, away at Tottenham Hotspur – during a thrilling campaign that ended with the Reds narrowly edged out into second place.

Flanagan’s progress – which had included international recognition from England – was unfortunately then halted by serious injury, with the Scouser requiring two knee operations as he spent 20 months on the sidelines.

He made a memorable return to the pitch under Jürgen Klopp in January 2016 and played nine times in total for the current boss, as well as heading out on loan to Burnley and Bolton Wanderers.

Flanagan departed Liverpool in the summer of 2018 and went on to represent Rangers, Charleroi and HB Koge before the decision to retire following further knee surgery.

“Ultimately my long-term health has to come first,” he said upon announcing the news. “So following medical advice the right thing for me to do now is retire from the game.

“My dream as a boy was to grow up and play football for a living and today I’m so proud to say I lived that dream.

“Not only playing [for] and captaining my boyhood club Liverpool but also making an appearance for my country, those memories created will last a lifetime and I’m so grateful that I have had the experience that most others can only wish for.”

Flanagan added: “I will now begin the next chapter of my football journey and I’m excited about what the future brings.”