Ex-Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool & Rangers defender announces retirement from football aged 29

Former Bolton Wanderers defender Jon Flanagan has announced his retirement from football at the age of 29 due to injury.

Flanagan spent the second half of the 2017/18 season on loan at Wanderers from Liverpool. He played nine times in the Championship.

Having come through the youth team ranks at Anfield, he had loan spells at both Burnley and Bolton. He departed for Scottish giants Rangers in the summer of 2018.

READ MORE:Bolton Wanderers vs Leeds United U21s LIVE: Build-up, early team news, match updates & reaction

He left Ibrox two years later and had spells at Charleroi in Belgium andHB Køge in Denmark, his most recent club. He has now announced his retirement from the game after his most recent knee surgery and following medical advice..

“Unfortunately after careful consideration I have made the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make: to retire from professional football,” Flanagan wrote on Instagram.

“The last 14 months I have tried everything possible to recover from my most recent knee surgery. However, ultimately my long-term health has to come first, 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 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 many others can only wish for.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support over my journey, especially my girlfriend, family, team-mates, coaches and agents. I feel very fortunate to have you all in my life.

“Also, a massive thank you to the fans of Liverpool,