Former Chelsea’s Champions League-winning player, Ryan Bertrand, has announced his retirement from football after a year of not playing for any club. His last stint was at Leicester City from 2021 to 2023.
While speaking on Sky Sports, the 34-year-old confirmed he is ending his professional playing career. Notably, he has expressed a strong interest in remaining active in top-level football following his retirement. He also indicated the anticipation about the next steps in his career.
“Just to clarify, officially, I will be retiring from football. It’s been a little while, but I get asked a lot of questions – ‘When are you coming back, what are you doing?’ So, just to make that official, I am retiring and very much looking forward to the next steps,” he said.
Ryan Bertrand’s career
Ryan Bertrand started his youth career at Gillingham before signing a contract with Chelsea in July 2005. After several loan spells, he made his full debut for Chelsea in April 2011. In the following year, he made history by becoming the first player to debut in a UEFA Champions League final. Remarkably, Chelsea won their maiden title, outplaying Bayern Munich 4–3 on penalties.
He later joined Southampton on loan for the 2014-15 season. In 2015, he permanently moved to the club, amassing 240 appearances over a seven-year stint. Later on, he moved to Leicester City in 2021, and after the club’s relegation from the Premier League, he left the club upon the expiration of his contract. He played for England’s national team, debuting in 2012, and represented his country until 2017, earning 19 caps in his career.
As Ryan Bertrand announced his retirement, he will now shift his focus to other ventures, potentially including a coaching career. The former England international has also expressed a keen interest in finance, suggesting it might keep him occupied after the end of his professional football career.
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