A Premier League Record Breaker Hangs up His Boots
Matthew Briggs, once the youngest player in Premier League history, has announced his retirement at the age of 32. After a career that included spells in Denmark and non-league football, Briggs made the decision to end his playing career earlier this week.
Youthful Beginnings and Record-Breaking Debut
Briggs made his mark on the Premier League at a young age. At just 16 years, two months, and seven days old, he made his debut for Fulham in May 2007. Coming off the bench against Middlesbrough, Briggs made history but still managed to sit a GCSE exam the following day. This record would stand for 12 years until it was broken by Harvey Elliott in 2019.
A Farewell Message to Fans
In a social media post confirming his retirement, Briggs expressed his gratitude to his family, friends, clubs, coaching and background staff, and teammates for their support throughout his career. He also shared his excitement for the future as he looks forward to helping the next generation of future stars.
A Varied Career
Following his Premier League debut, Briggs spent a further seven years with Fulham, playing 12 more top-flight matches during that time. He also had four loan spells before departing in 2014. After leaving Fulham, Briggs embarked on a journeyman career in the Football League, non-league, and even in Denmark. Just earlier this summer, he had joined Horsham, a team in the seventh tier, before deciding to retire.
International Success
Briggs not only made an impact domestically but also internationally. He won 15 caps for Guyana, representing the country at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Overall, Briggs' retirement marks the end of a successful and varied career. While he may have retired from playing, he now looks ahead to a new chapter in his life, eager to nurture and guide the next generation of football stars.
