Conor Coady: Former Wolves, Everton, Leicester defender retires at the age of 33
Coady started out at boyhood club Liverpool and went on to play for Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Wolves, Everton, Leicester, Wrexham and Charlton; the defender also earned 10 senior England caps between 2020 and 2022
Friday 6 November 2026 17:30, UK
Conor Coady has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Coady said: "I'm really proud to have played this unbelievable game for so long. I think I'm ready and there.
"The last couple of years have been tough, I've been obsessed with playing football for so long that when I haven't, it's hard. But I'm super, super proud with how the last 15 year have gone.
"Physically I'm absolutely fine, I feel good and I feel strong. I could have carried on playing, but I want to look forward to the next bit. I could have carried on playing and sat on the bench, but I've been sat on the bench for the last couple of years and I've found it tough. It happens and comes to everyone."
Coady left Wrexham on August 31, when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
His final game came on May 2, when he played 61 minutes of a 3-1 defeat to Swansea, during a loan spell at Charlton.
The news comes after an announcement on Thursday that he would co-host 'The Football Dugout' - a new weekly podcast and YouTube show alongside Sky Sports football presenter, Mark Chapman.
During a career that spanned 15 years, Coady also played for boyhood club Liverpool, Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Everton and Leicester.
He spent more than half of that time at Wolves, making 317 appearances for the club in all competitions.
After winning the Championship title in 2017/18, Coady missed just one Premier League game across the next four seasons at Molineux.
Between 2020 and 2022, he earned 10 senior caps for England and was part of both the Euro 2020 and World Cup 2022 squads, though he did not play at either tournament.
After coaching both England U19 and U21 sides earlier this year, Coady revealed in September that he had returned to Liverpool.
"I'm trying to keep myself busy," he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
"I'm lucky enough to get the opportunity to go into Liverpool's U21s. I came through there. I'm doing a little bit of coaching with the boys, which has been brilliant.
"The lads at Liverpool are amazing with me. The players but also Jay Spearing and Rob Page, who gave me the opportunity to come in, mirror them a little bit, be in the office before training and look at how they plan a session.
"If they need numbers, I'll jump in and keep myself fit as well. That's what it's looking like at the minute."
