Former Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson has played his last game in professional game and has officially retired from football.
The 37-year-old, whose last outing came last Sunday for AIK Solna in the Swedish Premier League, spent six seasons on Wearside making 203 appearances and scoring 14 goals. He also had stints in England with Arsenal, Birmingham City and Hull City before moving back to his native Sweden in 2018.
Along with his endeavour and work ethic, Larsson produced a number of memorable moments for the Black Cats with his eye for a memorable goal and pinpoint accuracy from set-pieces.
The Swede got his Sunderland career off to the perfect start scoring a bicycle kick against Liverpool on his debut. He would go on to score a number of free-kicks including a last minute winner against Blackburn Rovers. He would also help the Lads reach the League Cup final at Wembley in 2013.
Larsson’s stint in professional football has seen him clock up over 700 appearances for club and country in the game. “It’s been a long career. I have been really happy with it” he told SAFC.com. “I have got to experience some fantastic moments over the years, both in England and back home in Sweden lately.
“The time has come. The career is done, we will see what the future holds.
“It has been sneaking up on me over the last couple of years. I am 37-years-old but physically the body has been coping, he’s been fine. Not really had any injuries.
“Obviously the head is a big part of the body and I’ve felt over the last half a season, it’s a bit more to get to the level I want to be at. Mentally, I have had to fight a bit more.
“My girls have grown up and there are other things I want to experience with them so it just felt like the right time to stop my playing career.”
Speaking about the legacy he would like to leave behind from his playing career, Larsson continued: “I got asked the question the other day ‘how would I like to be remembered as a player?’
“I said for each club as a player, I would like the supporters to say and regardless of what they think of me quality-wise as a footballer, he was a guy that gave his all. He wore his heart on his sleeve and that’s what I have tried to do throughout my career. Hopefully that is the way people see me.”
The immediate future will see Seb work in broadcasting in Sweden whilst he has plans to visit Wearside with his family.
Congratulations on a brilliant career and happy retirement, Seb!