Liddell calls time on career

Attacker hoping to secure coaching role with Rotherham

By Chris Galea   Last updated: 18th June 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Liddell calls time on career

Liddell: Decided to retire

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Former Barnsley, Wigan Athletic and Oldham Athletic attacker Andy Liddell has retired from professional football.

The 36-year-old struggled with a series of injuries last season whilst at Rotherham United and was released by the club at the end of the campaign.

Liddell made over 500 appearances during his career, starting out at Barnsley before taking in spells with Wigan, Sheffield United, Oldham Athletic and finally Rotherham, whilst also representing Scotland at Under-21 level.

After being restricted to just five appearances for Rotherham, Liddell admits that it was simply the right time to bring his 19-year professional playing career to an end.

Frustrating

"I had a lot of problems with injury last year and it made my decision easier to retire from professional football with immediate effect," Liddell told skysports.com.

"I'm not going to play professionally any more and I'm not looking for another club this summer.

"Your body and mind knows when it is time to finish playing and it is my time now. I've had a very good career and made the most of what I was given, but it is time to call it a day now.

"It was disappointing to end it in the way that it did because Rotherham gave me a chance after I went through a difficult time in my personal life and it's a pity that I couldn't repay them a little bit better.

"I had just come back from an Achilles operation and then picked up a hamstring injury, so it was frustrating and the play-off defeat at Wembley left a sour taste in everybody's mouth, but the play-offs are always terrible when you lose and unfortunately Rotherham lost."

However, despite hanging up his boots as a player Liddell revealed that he hopes to stay in the game in another guise.

He added: "I'm definitely hoping to stay in the game and there may be something at Rotherham for me, but I'll have to wait until Ronnie and everyone else return from their holidays before we can discuss that further.

"I'm hoping to stay at the club as part of the staff their and I'd love to stay in football because I feel I have something to offer the game still.

"I've just finished studying a degree in Elite Sports Performance, which is a bit of everything really, from nutrition and performance to psychology, so hopefully I can use that plus my coaching badges that I've already got.

"I want to get into some sort of coaching or fitness role, but you just need to get that opportunity just like when you start out playing as a youngster."

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