Kyle Walker plans club retirement and targets Sheffield United return
Burnley defender Kyle Walker plans to dictate the terms of his club retirement and harbours a long-held ambition to finish his career at boyhood club Sheffield United.
The 35-year-old recently called time on his international career with England just three months ahead of the World Cup.
Despite stepping away from the global stage, the veteran full-back remains fully committed to extending his domestic playing days.
Speaking on The Overlap podcast, the former Manchester City star admitted that the physical toll of elite football is becoming more apparent.
Listening to his body
“I don’t know if I’ll continue playing for a few more years,” he admitted.
“I feel once that time in my head comes where I’m done, I’d have to be true to myself. Leave the game before the game leaves you.”
Approaching his 36th birthday in May, the right-back insists his general fitness remains strong despite increasing physical demands.
He is currently operating in a system at Turf Moor that requires more defensive discipline than he has been accustomed to throughout his career.
“It takes longer to recover, I can tell you that. One million per cent,” he said.
Reflecting on a glittering career
“And probably now I’m probably doing a lot more defending than I’ve ever done in my career, but I feel good.”
“It’s more for me upstairs and you fight your little battles in your head if you can keep doing it.”
The decorated defender is determined not to let external opinions dictate when he finally hangs up his boots.
“I don’t want to tarnish what I’ve done but I also have a level of respect for myself that I’ll do it on my terms,” he explained.
“I’m not letting outside noise reflect what I want to do as a footballer because it’s a short career and people don’t understand that.”
A Steel City homecoming
Having been immersed in the sport since the age of six, the prospect of life without professional football is daunting.
“I’ve not done anything else in my whole entire life except football, so it’s a big part of me and to let it go, it’s hard,” he confessed.
“But sometimes you have to let it go when you’re not good enough anymore.”
His ultimate ambition is a romantic return to Bramall Lane, where his illustrious journey first began before his departure at the age of 19.
“It’s always been a dream to play for Sheffield United again,” he stated.
Overcoming European heartbreak
“I hope to play for them again. I don’t know when that will be. I don’t know if they will want me.”
The podcast conversation also touched upon the disappointment of being benched for the 2023 Champions League final.
During that historic night in Istanbul, his former club secured a famous treble victory to cap off an unprecedented domestic and European campaign.
“Pep Guardiola explained to me why he left me out of the Champions League final,” he recalled.
“He pulled me aside and told me that I wasn’t playing because he wanted to go with the back four.”
