ONE-TIME England international Martin Kelly has quietly hung up his boots, more than a year after last kicking a ball professionally.
The former Liverpool and Crystal Palace defender, now 35, has revealed he officially retired back in March, but never made a public announcement.
PA:Empics SportKelly came through the Liverpool academy and even played a game for England[/caption]
Kelly, (left) played 33 league games for Liverpool
He joined Crystal Palace from Liverpool for £2million in 2014 and helped them finish 14th in the leagueReuters
Kelly, who made his debut for the Reds as a teenager in a Champions League win away at PSV Eindhoven, spent over a decade in the top flight, racking up 62 games for Liverpool and 148 for Palace.
He also played 121 league games for Crystal Palace.
Kelly was handed his only England cap in 2012, coming off the bench in a friendly against Norway and was part of the squad for that summer’s Euros in Poland and Ukraine.
But his career was blighted by injuries, including a torn ACL, and after short spells with West Brom and a brief loan to Wigan, he’s now officially called it quits.
Speaking to The Athletic, Kelly said: “I’ve never actually got around to writing the social media post to announce it. I’ve only told friends and family, but yeah, I’ve retired.
“It was March when I sat down with the family and told them I was thinking about it.”
He added that being invited to play for Liverpool Legends, where being retired was a requirement, helped confirm his decision.
Kelly added: “Around the same time, I got asked to play for Liverpool in a legends game against Chelsea.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
“One of the stipulations was that you had to be retired, so that just reaffirmed my decision.”
The Whiston-born right-back spent 16 years at Anfield after joining the academy aged just eight, scoring once in a League Cup win over Chelsea in 2011.
He was also on the bench for the Reds’ League Cup final triumph over Cardiff at Wembley that season.
Liverpool FC paid tribute to their former player, wishing him all the best for the future.
Kelly who last played for Wigan Athletic in 2023 is set to line up once again for Liverpool legends this weekend, as his former side face Chelsea Legends at Stamford Bridge.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
