Former Manchester United and England full-back will end his playing career Saturday after spells at six clubs across two decades.
9:22 PM
Ashley Young has confirmed he will retire from professional football at the end of the season at age 40, concluding a 23-year career that spanned multiple continents and elite clubs.
Young, who joined Ipswich Town last summer, stated that Saturday's Championship fixture against Queens Park Rangers will be his final match, provided Kieran McKenna's side secure automatic promotion to the Premier League and avoid the play-offs.
The English full-back made 765 club appearances and scored 88 goals across his career. He began at Watford before moving to Aston Villa, then Manchester United, Inter Milan, a return to Aston Villa, Everton, and finally Ipswich Town.
"I am incredibly proud and fortunate to have achieved everything I have during my career," Young said in an Ipswich press release. In a social media post, he reflected on his journey: "From Sefton Road to Vicarage Road, from Villa Park to Wembley, from Old Trafford to San Siro, back to Villa Park, to Goodison Park and finally to Portman Road. It has been a journey I could only have dreamed of as a kid. But all dreams come to an end and Saturday could be the last game of my professional career. 23 years and it's done."
Young's most significant achievements came with Manchester United, where he won the Premier League in the 2012-13 season, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Europa League in 2016-17, and the Community Shield. He also won the Serie A title with Inter Milan during the 2020-21 campaign.
The versatile defender earned international recognition with England during his career. His move to Ipswich Town marked a return to English football after his spell with Everton, and the club currently competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football.
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