Ex-Newcastle United & Sunderland man announces retirement less than one month after shock 8th-tier move
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Newcastle United latest news: Former Magpies midfielder Jack Colback has announced his retirement from football.
Former Newcastle United and Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback has announced his retirement from football.
Colback played almost 500 games during his senior career and only last month joined eighth-tier side Anstey Nomads. However, less than a month on from that announcement, Colback has confirmed that he has played his last ever match as a professional.
Jack Colback announces retirement from football
Colback announced his retirement from football with an emotional 118-word Instagram post. Alongside pictures of him celebrating some big moments during his career, the 36-year-old wrote: ‘Today I’m announcing my retirement from professional football.
‘I feel privileged to have the honour of playing nearly 500 matches at the top level, representing some of the biggest clubs in the country in Newcastle, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Queen’s Park Rangers. From pulling on the shirt for the first time as a young lad to stepping out in front of packed stadiums in the Premier League, it’s been a journey I’ll always be grateful for.
‘There have been highs, lows, promotions, tough defeats, and moments I’ll never forget. I would like to thank all of my coaches, teammates and supporters who helped me to achieve my dream.
‘Looking forward to what the next chapter holds. JC ❤️⚽️’
During a career that saw him represent Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and QPR, arguably the most fruitful time of Colback’s career came whilst at Newcastle United. His form during his first few seasons on Tyneside even earned him a call-up to the senior England squad, although injury prevented him from making his debut for his national team.
Jack Colback’s post-Newcastle United career
Colback was, of course, one of few players to have famously crossed the Wear-Tyne divide when he joined Newcastle United from Sunderland in 2014 on a free transfer. Colback immediately became a regular under Alan Pardew on Tyneside, making 35 Premier League appearances in his debut campaign at St James’ Park.
His four goals that season was his best ever goalscoring return in the league, matching only his four strikes during a season-long loan move to Ipswich Town during the 2009/10 season. Colback would spend three seasons in and around the Magpies’ first-team, with his time as a regular culminating in helping Newcastle United lift the Championship trophy under Rafa Benitez.
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As his side celebrated promotion back to the Premier League, though, Colback was not part of the Spaniard’s plans and after spending half a season in the reserves, he was sent on-loan to Nottingham Forest. The City Ground would be where the midfielder would spend the next five years of his career.
Colback would play a key part in helping Forest to promotion to the Premier League, playing 41 times in the league as they won the play-offs at Wembley under Steve Cooper. However, a major overhaul of the playing squad that summer would once again see Colback slip down the pecking order and after making just 11 top-flight appearances, he would then move onto QPR, again on a free transfer.