Theo Walcott was released by Southampton this summer and he has discussed his departure and subsequent retirement.
Walcott resigned for the Saints, on loan, in 2020 and went on to make 50 appearances in the Premier League.
Despite only scoring five goals, he was a player who always seemed to give his all while on the pitch.
With that being said, the club’s relegation saw 18 players leave St Mary’s over the course of the summer window.
Walcott’s release saw his subsequent retirement and move into punditry.
What has Theo Walcott said?
The Englishman began his senior career at 16 and retired at 34, he has been around for a long time.
As a result of his 18-year career, he has seen it all.
This fact saw him understand his release: “I’ve been around for so long. I knew nothing was there, but I was still playing like it was my last game. Which it essentially was.”
His final season didn’t go as anybody would have wanted. He made just 20 appearances as the Saints suffered relegation.
Following this, Walcott felt that he knew his fate: “There wasn’t an option, I sort of knew that. When last season was coming to a close, as a player you understand.”
The experience he has allowed him to predict this an prepare better for his future.
This is something he expanded on: “I planned for it anyway. It didn’t sit pretty with me to sign for a club if I had no intentions to play anymore. It wouldn’t have done me or the club any favours.”
With links to Reading over the summer, it appears he wanted to finish his career with Southampton and that is what he did.
Not the end that anyone wanted, but professional as ever from Walcott.