was once regarded as one of the most promising midfield talents in the beautiful game with the world seemingly at his feet.
However, owing to horrendous luck with injury which plagued him throughout his spell in , the Arsenal fan favourite sadly failed to reach the heights his talent so obviously deserved.
The Arsenal graduate suffered from, amongst a whole host of other injuries, various ankle, groin and calf complaints in his career.
Wilshere is back on the radar of footy fans this weekend owing to his for this weekend’s .
As such, many supporters have been left wondering – is Wilshere still playing football or has he retired?
Here is everything you need to know.
Does Jack Wilshere still play football?
Wilshere aged just 30 after his struggles with injury finally took its toll.
Discussing his decision to walk away from the game, the former midfielder said: ‘It has been an unbelievable journey filled with so many incredible moments and I feel privileged to have experienced all that I did during my career.
‘From being the little boy kicking a ball around in the garden to captaining my beloved Arsenal and playing for my country at a . I have lived my dream.
‘In truth it has been difficult to accept that my career has been slipping away in recent times due to reasons outside of my control whilst feeling that I have still had so much to give.
‘Having played at the very highest level I have always held such huge ambitions within the game and if I am truthful I did not envisage being in this position at times.
‘However, having had time to reflect and talk with those closest with me I know that now is the right time and despite the difficult moments I look back on my career with great pride at what I have achieved.’
What did he do after leaving Arsenal?
Wilshere left Arsenal to join West Ham on a three year deal in 2018, bringing the curtain down on his Gunners career which started as a nine year-old in the club’s academy back in 2021.
His contract was mutually terminated in 2020 with one year still remaining on his deal having only played 19 times for the first team across his two year spell owing to yet more injuries.
Wilshere returned to Bournemouth at the start of 2021, with whom he spent the 2016/17 season on loan, but his six month deal with the Cherries was not extended beyond the summer.
Struggling to find a club, Wilshere kept up his fitness by training with Arsenal and Serie B side Como for the rest of 2021.
He finally signed for Danish Superliga club AGF in February 2022 for the rest of the season, but with his contract new renewed at the end of conclusion of the campaign, Wilshere decided to call it a day and retire from the game.
He was appointed as the head coach of the Arsenal U18 team in July 2022.
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