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Former England International Shocks Fans by Coming Out of Retirement
- A former England star has made a stunning decision to come out of retirement.
- The ex-player has a remarkable Premier League record, having played for four different clubs.
By Jeorge Bird
Published: 09:34 EDT, 22 July 2024 | Updated: 11:41 EDT, 22 July 2024
A former England international has taken the football world by surprise by announcing his decision to come out of retirement, four years after hanging up his boots. The 43-year-old star, who has made over 600 Premier League appearances and has 53 caps for England, initially retired from playing in August 2020.
During his lengthy playing career, he featured in the Premier League for four different clubs – boyhood side Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton, and West Brom. He also won the Premier League title on one occasion, famously scoring a dramatic winner for Manchester City.
The player in question is none other than Gareth Barry, the Premier League’s record appearance holder with an impressive 653 games under his belt.
Gareth Barry, the Premier League’s record appearance maker, has come out of retirement to represent Hurstpierpoint FC
Barry has come out of retirement to play for village amateur side Hurstpierpoint, who play in the Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid Sussex Football League. Hurstpierpoint commented that Barry’s quality in training has been ‘unreal’, and revealed that he has a longstanding association with the village through his friend and the club’s coach Michael Standing.
Barry and Standing signed for Aston Villa from Brighton on the same day in 1997, with Standing later becoming his agent. During an impressive career, Barry won the Premier League title with Manchester City in the 2011-12 campaign and went on to feature for Everton and West Bromwich Albion.
Barry played in the Premier League for four clubs, including Manchester City
Barry (back row second from right) represented his country 53 times during his career
Though Barry holds the record for the most appearances with 653, he could be soon overtaken by his former Man City team-mate James Milner, who has 634 games in the top flight. On the international stage, Barry played for England between 2000 and 2012.
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Former England star who holds an impressive Premier League record makes surprise decision to come out of retirement four years after hanging up his boots