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Kevin Phillips: Leicester City striker to retire

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments220

Kevin Phillips

Veteran striker Kevin Phillips will retire from playing this weekend after helping Leicester City win promotion to the Premier League.

The 40-year-old, capped eight times by England, will remain with Leicester, joining the coaching staff next season.

"For me it was the right time to bow out," said Phillips, who will face Doncaster in his final game.

Leicester will lift the Championship trophy at the King Power Stadium on Saturday and despite their imminent return to the top flight, Phillips was keen to explore "new opportunities".

"The body has been aching in the morning for a while now, especially the cold mornings with my ankles," he told BBC Sport.

"Have I got another pre-season in me? Yes I probably have, but I'm going to take a rest and look forward to the future."

The Foxes are his ninth professional club - having previously played for Watford, Sunderland, Southampton, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Blackpool and Crystal Palace - in a career which began at Vicarage Road in 1994 and in which he has scored 287 goals.

The most prolific spell of Phillips's 20-year professional career was spent at Sunderland, scoring 116 goals in 211 league games, and he became the only English player to win Europe's Golden Shoe award in 2000.

Kevin Phillips
Kevin Phillips lifted the Premier League Golden Boot Award in 1999-2000, scoring seven goals more than second-placed Alan Shearer

He is also the last Englishman to win the Premier League's Golden Boot, scoring 30 goals in that season and told BBC Sport his proudest moment in the game was making his England debut in Hungary in 1999.

Phillips made five substitute appearances for Palace this term before being released by mutual consent in January.

He has become both Leicester's oldest ever outfield player and goalscorer, having also set the record for oldest player to feature for Crystal Palace in the Premier League earlier this term as well.

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220 comments

  • Comment posted by User0236707065, at 17:24 28 Apr 2014

    40. LFCSuarezYNWAJFT96

    Presumably you haven't heard of Kevin Phillips because he's never celebrated being sent off in a World Cup Quarter Final and has never bitten or racially abused an opponent.

    Knowing Phillips, I doubt he's ever dived either. Your hero hasn't stayed on his feet for longer than 10 minutes since birth.

  • Comment posted by User0640004587, at 16:44 28 Apr 2014

    Feels like a million years ago he was being called up for England. Much praise for his longevity. I'd happily have him replace Robbie Savage as a BBC pundit.

  • Comment posted by Burnap, at 17:15 28 Apr 2014

    Super, Super Kev.
    Super, Super Kev.
    Super Kevin Philips.

    A true professional and still the only Englishman to win the European golden boot. Congratulations on the longevity of your career and all the best in retirement.

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 17:50 28 Apr 2014

    Speaking as a Newcastle Fan - he may have been a SMB but I liked and admired him as a player! One of the few natural goal scorers we have produced in this country

  • Comment posted by User0976653692, at 17:50 28 Apr 2014

    One of the most honest, hard working, modest and professional footballers of the last 20 years.

    If all the moronic, self-indulgent, self-deluded panzies playing at the big clubs took a leaf out of Phillips' book, then the Premier League would be a far better place.

  • Comment posted by scottatbstoke, at 17:23 28 Apr 2014

    Thank you Kevin, a gentleman and goal scorer wherever he plied his trade.
    Heartfelt Thanks and you will be an honorary Mackem for ever

  • Comment posted by User0102498540, at 17:41 28 Apr 2014

    Dazzer Moyers, with no due respect...your an idiot. Kevin Phillips was a great player, top premier league scorer in the 99/00 season with 30 goals and is the only english player to win the european golden shoe. Any united player means your including welbeck, cleverly, fellaini, smalling, jones, veron, forlan just to name a few who are or were useless.

  • Comment posted by New chav on the block, at 18:03 28 Apr 2014

    Yeah, thats right! He scored 30 goals in a premier league season and won the European golden shoe. He must be a really rubbish player..let the haters hate.

  • Comment posted by 27 attempts at a username later, at 17:47 28 Apr 2014

    He may have had "more clubs than Jack Nicklaus", but he's a model of longevity for today's players. Well done Kev.

  • Comment posted by mcsmog, at 19:31 28 Apr 2014

    87. ManUChamp20ns
    1 HOUR AGO
    He cannot ever be classed as a great player as he never played for United.

    Congratulations on highlighting the reason why every non Man U fan has absolutely LOVED this season. Enjoy the Europa League next season if you hang on to the spot courtesy of Arsenal winning the cup. Arrogant to the end - WR should look to KP on how to behave.

  • Comment posted by User0104079446, at 19:47 28 Apr 2014

    One of my heroes. He almost seems from a bygone age, the way he quietly went about his business. Seemed a no frills, dedicated pro and brought that to every club he played for. Instinctive scorer with an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time, something you simply can't teach. PL Golden Boot and Euro Golden Shoe, whilst with "unfashionable" Sunderland really is remarkable.

  • Comment posted by FootKnoll, at 19:03 28 Apr 2014

    Glad to say I played alongside Kevin in the Baldock FC team all those years back Top bloke & Top Player. The thing I will always remember about him is that I never saw a bad touch or a miss hit shot - great technique and ability!! You did it mate - your old man would be so proud of what you have achieved !!

  • Comment posted by User0814325361, at 18:01 28 Apr 2014

    Congratulations on a fantastic career. It was a real privilege to watch him play such a significant role at Sunderland with Niall Quinn. A real example to all of today's so called 'stars'.

  • Comment posted by GunnerStorm, at 17:53 28 Apr 2014

    This man haunt's Wayne Rooney's dreams..

    - Kevin Phillips
    "the last Englishman to win the Premier League's Golden Boot"
    He won it in 1999/00 haha

  • Comment posted by User0406770850, at 16:38 28 Apr 2014

    Classic example of a professional footballer who made the most of his abilities. Not the most talented lad you'll ever see - but always represented his teams with full commitment. In doing so he rightly earned the respect from all football fans and his fellow professionals.

    Enjoy your well-earned retirement.

  • Comment posted by D1679429605922, at 20:21 28 Apr 2014

    this is about kevin Philips but still some tw?&s think they are clever by mentioning mufc,lfc,arsenal, and such, anyone who manages to play a physical sport up to the age of forty deserves praise

  • Comment posted by Bronze153, at 22:48 28 Apr 2014

    Top player, and top bloke. Would have him back at the Villa now, even at 40.
    And good to see the usual infestation / attempted takeover of this thread by certain teams fans
    Dazzer Moyes - you are depriving a village of an idiot

  • Comment posted by AC, at 22:45 28 Apr 2014

    Hardly ever scored a tap in, great in the air. Real shame Sunlun never pushed on when he was at his peak. Never since he left have I visited Stadium of Light expecting someone to score. Only handful of caps but deserved more. Saw Bentdner two years ago on xthousand a week and saw Superkev in his prime- like comparing vintage champagne with Vimto.

  • Comment posted by bill40, at 17:21 28 Apr 2014

    All I can tell you about Super King Kev as a Blackpool fan is that everytime he came on opposition fans and defenders had remarkably similar involuntary bowel movements!
    Come to that Blackpool need a manager if you think you can cope with a budget of £3.81 plus free donkey rides.

  • Comment posted by User0424414496, at 19:26 28 Apr 2014

    Great to see a thread on here that is (almost) wholly positive. And deservedly so! Top man!

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