After battling to return to football for over three years, Southampton midfielder Sam McQueen has decided to retire from the game for good.
Sam McQueen is just 26-year-old but his right knee can no longer carry him when it comes to a contact sport like football. The English football star was 23-year-old when he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while playing on loan for Middlesbrough in October 2018.
The former England youth international tried so many methods to get back to his feet including multiple surgeries on his right knee. Unfortunately, his effort to get fit and return to football has not yielded much result.
Hence, Sam McQueen had to issue a statement to declare that he would not be able to play football again due to the lingering knee injury.
According to his statement, the midfielder who is a product of the Southampton youth system has tried to return to training but whenever he did, he always developed muscle tears.
Before he decided to hang his boots, he was told that even if he was fit enough to return to competitive football, he would not last too long before he would be forced to retire. Hence, he decided to cut short his career to save himself and the family the stress.
“This has been such an incredibly tough decision to make as I so desperately want to play football again, but I have to do what is right for me and my family”, Sam McQueen wrote via Southampton’s website.
“The amount of time I’ve had not on my feet and not running has caused my body to de-condition to such a level that now when I try to join in any parts of training, I continually get muscle tears in certain areas and my knee’s not able to cope, so I was advised I wouldn’t be able to play football for much longer if I did manage to get back fit.”
Forever a Saint 😇
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 1, 2022
Whatever you choose to do next, Sam, we know you’ll be a great success. pic.twitter.com/u4m82T1KuZ
Sam McQueen broke into Southampton senior team on July 1, 2016. He played a total of 29 games for Southampton in all competitions, 20 of which were in the Premier League before he was sent on loan to Middlesbrough on August 30, 2018.
The 26-year-old retired footballer returned to Southampton on May 31, 2019, with the knee injury which he sustained at Middlesbrough in October 2018.
Due to the prolonged injury, Southampton decided not to renew his contract which also contributed to his decision to bow out of the game.
A statement from Southampton read: “Everyone at Southampton Football Club would like to issue their heartfelt thanks to Sam for his incredible commitment and efforts as a Saints player, as well as for the way he has conducted himself off the pitch.
“He will continue to have our support and will be a shining example for all young players coming through the club’s academy.”
This is Sam McQueen’s story, in his own words ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Mr1BFF59C6
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 1, 2022
