Burnley striker and Republic of Ireland international Jonathan Walters has announced his retirement from football following a long-standing Achilles injury.
Walters, 35, sustained the injury while playing for Ipswich on loan during a Championship match against Bolton last September.
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Walters cited a long-standing Achilles injury as the reason behind his retirement
It was thought the problem would keep him sidelined for six months but the veteran has revealed the issue has forced him into prematurely ending his career.
He wrote on Twitter: “Isn’t it ironic…my Achilles heel has literally been my Achilles heel and finished me off! I am now retired from playing football It’s been epic Veni vidi vici”.
Qualified to play for the Republic through his Irish mother, Merseyside-born Walters scored 14 goals in 54 international appearances and played at Euro 2012 and Euro 2016.
He started his professional career at Blackburn in 2000 after coming through the academy but failed to make a first-team appearance for Rovers before switching to Bolton the following year.
Walters then moved on to Hull, Wrexham and Chester before eventually establishing himself at Ipswich, where he scored 32 goals in 146 games in all competitions.
He was sold in the summer of 2010 for around £2.75million to Stoke, where he spent the next seven seasons.
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Walters scored twice in a 5-0 thrashing of Bolton in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley to help the Potters reach the 2011 final, where they lost 1-0 to Manchester City.
He netted 62 times in 271 matches for Stoke before joining Burnley for £3million in July 2017.
However, he was unable to force his way into Sean Dyche’s plans and was duly loaned out to Ipswich at the start of this season.
Walters was named in the starting XI for his first two matches with Town but a 71st-minute introduction against his former club Bolton would prove to be his final appearance as a professional.
A number of Walters’ former team-mates as well as the German FA paid tribute to him. Below you can see some of the best tweets.
Jonathan Walters: Burnley and Republic of Ireland forward
'It's been epic': Ireland striker Jonathan Walters announces retirement from football aged 35 The forward scored 14 goals in 54 international appearances for Ireland.
Republic of Ireland striker Jon Walters announces retirement
Republic of Ireland forward, Jonathan Walters, has announced his retirement from football. The statement came today in a tweet from the Burnley player in typically direct yet self-effacing manner. "Isn't it ironic…my Achilles heel has literally been my Achilles heel and finished me off! "I am now retired from playing football. It's
Jonathan Walters: Former Burnley and Ireland defender on
Walters made his final Republic of Ireland appearance against Wales last SeptemberRetirement bites us all at some point, but for Jonathan Walters, it is "heartbreaking".The former Republic of Ireland forward announced his retirement on Friday, an Achilles injury literally becoming his Achilles heel and "finishing him off", as he wrote in a statement on social…
Jon Walters announces retirement from football - irishtimes.com
Burnley striker and Republic of Ireland international Jonathan Walters has announced his retirement from football following a long-standing Achilles injury. Walters, 35, sustained the injury while
Jonathan Walters: Former Burnley and Republic of Ireland
~ Jonathan Walters: Burnley and Republic of Ireland forward announces retirement from football ~ Kenya Latest Burnley and Republic of Ireland forward announces
Jonathan Walters: Striker announces retirement from football
Republic of Ireland striker Jon Walters announces retirement from football after nightmare injury run The frontman, 35, who is currently on the books at Burnley took to social media to confirm the
Burnley and Republic of Ireland striker Jonathan Walters has announced his retirement from football because of an Achilles injury. The 35-year-old was on-loan at Championship side Ipswich this
Jonathan Walters: Burnley and Republic of Ireland forward
'VENI VIDI VICI' His decision to retire from the game comes after he suffered a partially-ruptured Achilles tendon in September while on loan at Ipswich Burnley striker and Republic of Ireland international Jonathan Walters has announced his retirement from football following a long-standing Achilles injury.
Jonathan Walters announces retirement from football - THE
Retirement bites us all at some point, but for Jonathan Walters, it is "heartbreaking". The former Republic of Ireland forward announced his retirement on Friday, an Achilles injury literally
Jonathan Walters: Burnley and Republic of Ireland forward
Republic of Ireland and Burnley striker Jonathan Walters has announced his retirement from football following a long-standing Achilles injury. The 35-year-old was on-loan at Ipswich when he
'It's been epic': Ireland striker Jonathan Walters announces
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