Sol Campbell admits he found it difficult to accept that his playing days were over and has revealed that he received two intriguing offers last summer.
Former England international reflects on his decision to call it a day
Sol Campbell admits he found it difficult to accept that his playing days were over and has revealed that he received two intriguing offers last summer.
The veteran defender slipped into retirement on Wednesday, with the curtain brought down on an illustrious playing career which has spanned almost 20 years.
Having spent much of that time at the very top of the game competing for the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and England, Campbell concedes that he found it difficult to hang up his boots.
"It was a very, very difficult decision to come to because it's hard to let go, especially when you have been a top sportsman for a long, long time," he told
Sky Sports News HD.
"It comes to all athletes around the world, you get to the age where your mind, your body and your spirit says enough is enough. You have to hang up your boots and call it a day.
"To get to my decision, it takes a long time. It is difficult for me to be here and say that's it, I'm not playing football on a professional level again.
Dedication
"It takes a long time because of the work I have done over the years and being at the top, dedication, it's not easy to get to this. That's why I was putting it off for a long time."
Campbell has been without a club since being released by Newcastle at the end of the 2010/11 season, but claims he was offered the opportunity to prolong his career.
He has refused to reveal the identity of the interested parties, but admits one of newly-promoted Reading and Southampton were among those to approach him.
"I had a few offers at the beginning of the season," he said.
"They were mostly southern-based. One was a Premiership club who was coming up and another one have actually gone up this year from the Championship.
"I had a foot injury so I couldn't even play football at the time. I wouldn't really have done myself justice or the team that were looking at me, so it was a difficult moment. When my foot was ready and fine, obviously people have moved on."
