MIDDLESBROUGH defender Tommy Smith has announced his retirement from football at the age of 32.
Smith suffered a ruptured Achilles in October 2023, and has been sidelined for the last year-and-a-half.
He was due to become a free agent in the summer, when his Boro contract was set to expire, and has opted to announce his retirement now rather than attempt to continue playing once his recovery from injury is complete.
Boro will continue to support his rehabilitation at their Rockliffe Park training ground, but have accepted Smith will not be available to play again this season.
“When something comes to an end, naturally I think it’s normal to look back and try to reflect,” said Smith, in a statement released via Middlesbrough. “When I ruptured my Achilles on 23 October 2023, I had full belief and confidence that I would come back fitter and stronger than I was before.
“Unfortunately, after 15 months of extensive rehab and on the back of some really tough conversations with the medical team at Middlesbrough, along with the best foot and ankle consultant in the UK, I have now decided to retire from professional football.
“To even think about not playing the sport that I have only ever done for pretty much my whole life is something that has been incredibly difficult to take.
“Together with the staff at Middlesbrough, we’ve worked tirelessly to try to get my body to the level it needs to be at, but ultimately, I’ve not progressed as we planned, and I feel it’s important now for me to close this wonderful chapter of my life and look forward to what is next.”
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Smith made 353 professional appearances during his playing career, having initially dropped into non-league football after he was released from the academy at Manchester City.
He signed his first professional terms with Huddersfield Town, and made 200 senior outings for the Terriers prior to joining Stoke City.
He played in more than 100 senior games for Stoke, and headed to Boro in the summer of 2022 after training with the Teessiders following his release from the bet365 Stadium.
He retires after playing 47 first-team matches for Boro, with his final appearance having come in a 1-0 win over Birmingham City in October 2023.
“To the club owners I’ve played for, the managers and coaches I’ve played under, all the players I’ve played alongside and to all the fans who’ve supported myself and the teams I’ve represented over the years through thick and thin, thank you all,” added Smith.
“To everybody at Middlesbrough. Firstly, the physios, doctors and coaching staff for your relentless support and efforts to help me during this injury. To every other single member of staff that I have the pleasure of working with and seeing on a daily basis, who make it a workplace you enjoy being a part of and who have continued to be positive and supportive towards me every single day during this tough period, you’ve all no idea how much I appreciate you.
“A special mention must go to the chairman Steve Gibson, Neil Bauser, Kieran Scott and Michael Carrick for their continued understanding, support, patience and backing throughout this whole process.
“And to all of the players in the changing room who I admire and respect enormously. I have huge faith and belief in you all as players and people to go on and achieve what you want to, moving forward.”
