Tom Flanagan retires after pre-season Achilles rupture at Colchester United | OneFootball

Former Sunderland defender Tom Flanagan has retired after rupturing his Achilles during Colchester United’s pre-season.

He had been preparing for another campaign with the League Two club when the injury struck, and he has now called time on a 17-year professional career. The player said in a statement that he leaves the game with immense pride and gratitude.

Flanagan made over 100 Sunderland appearances across four seasons, departing in January 2022 after 22 outings in the promotion-winning League One campaign. He also won 15 caps for Northern Ireland.

His statement recounted how a routine warm-up on a Friday morning ended his career in an instant, underlining the fragility of the profession and how quickly years of work can vanish.

It encouraged young professionals to value daily rituals as much as big occasions, and to cherish relationships with team-mates, opponents and staff above medals.

The message also stressed that opportunities were earned, not gifted, and offered thanks to every club, colleague, staff member and supporter involved in his journey.

Source: Sunderland Echo