Nigerian-born former Aston Villa attacker, Gabriel Agbonlahor has come out with a confession that he never thought he would get such a glittering career when he started out playing the round leather game in school.
In the wake of his retirement at the age of 32, ‘Gabby’ said he is happy to get a glorious career that saw him play almost 400 matches in the English Premier League, captain Villa for a long while and even get to play for England’s main national team.
Sports247.ng reports that the fleet-footed attacker, who was a boyhood Villa fan, has been without a club since leaving the English Championship club last summer, but he insists he has no regrets, following a 17-year top-notch spell at Villa Park.
Agbonlahor, who also spent time out on loan with Watford and Sheffield Wednesday, recalls how he passed through the youth ranks at Villa, and played nearly 341 times for the senior team.
He ended up scoring 75 goals, after making his EPL debut against Everton in 2006, at age 19, and Agbonlahor, who also qualified to play for Nigeria and Scotland, believes he could not have asked for anything better.
The Villa icon also had three appearances for England against Germany, Spain and Belarus, from 2008 to 2009, all of which he admits made him feel very proud and quite accomplished.
Agbonlahor said: “The time has come to officially retire and watch Aston Villa as a fan!!! I look forward to whatever the future holds
“If I would have been told at school I would play nearly 400 league games, be the record premiership goal scorer for Aston Villa, captain the great club and represent England at senior level I would have laughed!!!
“I wanna say thank you to all the supporters the staff I have worked with at a great club and my ex-teammates.
“The thought of playing for another team or playing against Aston Villa was something I just couldn’t do.”
