Jermain Defoe has reiterated it was "the right time" to retire after struggling to get up to speed since joining from Rangers. The former Sunderland striker re-joined the Black Cats on Deadline Day in the hope of firing the Wearsiders towards promotion.
The former England striker claims he didn't want to stand in the way of any young players trying to break into the first-team. The 39-year-old has called time on an illustrious career and will be fondly remembered on the banks of the River Wear.
Despite ranking among the Premier League's all-time top goal scorers, it was not until the 2020-21 season that Defoe won his first league title with Rangers. A year as player/coach would follow, but he admits struggling to balance his playing career and coaching career, played a part in his decision to retire.
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Speaking on the Five podcast with Rio Ferdinand, Defoe said: "It was fine[fans' response to his retirement]. It was something that, when I signed the new contract at Rangers it was sort of like player/coach contract. When you win the league you're up here [on a high], at a club like that, I said about standards, it's all about winning because it's all that's in front of you it's all they talk about.
"Every game you play you have to win. We played Real Madrid in pre-season, it was their second team, we played them and the fans expect you to win. It doesn't matter who you play against, this is the best club in the world, we've got the best fans, you have to win.
"When I walked into that environment at the back end of my career, you get the fire back because I didn't play at Bournemouth, I was buzzing. Then you win the league and the celebrations are unbelievable, to win 55 league titles. The next season as a player, to player/coach, it was hard to balance the two.
"With me it's just football, train, recover and get ready for the game. As a player/coach where do I do my coaching? I tried to tick all the boxes in terms of preparation and recovery. There were certain days I'd finish training and then there'd be days were I'd think 'Should I be taking the forwards for some finishing?"
"I'd do it a few times, but then should I be inside getting a massage? I spoke to Stevie [Gerrard], he said he understood that the club wanted to help me with the transition but understood how difficult it was going to be, because how do you balance it?
"Because I was doing both I wasn't playing much and I think you switch off a bit mentally because I went through a period where I didn't play for ages. Then a new manager came in, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and I sat down with him and talked, I knew he'd been at Barcelona, we talked about the philosophy and he was unbelievable.
"In terms of playing I just switched off and it was difficult. I went to Sunderland and it was getting up to speed and not playing, playing a game, resting, playing a game and then lower back problems, ankles. I just though am I blocking the way for someone coming through because Jermain Defoe is here.
"I didn't want it to be a situation for the manager, because I'm here and my reputation meant they had to put me on the pitch or I had to play. Am I blocking the way for someone else? As you get older it becomes harder, I believe that you train harder because you're trying to get up to speed. For me I just knew it was the time for me."
