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Ex-Sunderland, Wigan and Middlesbrough star Lee Cattermole retires aged 32 to focus on coaching badges


LEE CATTERMOLE has announced his retirement at the age of 32.

The former Middlesbrough, Wigan and Sunderland midfielder’s final season was at Dutch club VVV Venlo – where he made 11 appearances.

Getty – Contributor

Lee Cattermole has bid farewell to playing football[/caption]

And he will now concentrate on getting his coaching badges.

He said: “With the current situation, the amount of time I have had at home, and a great season in Holland, the time is right for me to look into going down the coaching route.

“Ordinarily I don’t think it would have been this year, my aim would have been to play two more seasons.

“Given how long it was since I last played, the more time I have been away from playing, the more I have thought about the game and getting on the training pitch.

“If the season hadn’t finished like it did in May then things might not have been like this, but I think this is right.

“I am happy with my playing career, although I’m sure I could have done better. I could have done worse as well.

“I will learn from those things and I want to make sure I am an even better coach/manager than I was a player.”

Getty Images – Getty

Lee Cattermole progressed through the Middlesbrough academy[/caption]


Known for his no-nonsense tackling, Cattermole racked up 272 Premier League appearances.

After making his top-flight debut as a 17-year-old Middlesbrough youngster in 2006, he spent three years on Teeside before joining Wigan for a single campaign.

But the former England Under-21 international is best known for spending a decade as a Mackem between 2009-19, even starring in Netflix’s Sunderland Till I Die documentary.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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