TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR GOALKEEPER Brad Friedel has announced that he will retire from the game at the end of the season.
The American told Sky Sports that he will return to the US to become a pundit for Fox TV while also completing his pro coaching licence there. He will also be a club ambassador for Spurs in the states as he bids ‘to help the club go further’.
Friedel who will turn 44 next Monday has made 450 appearances throughout his Premier League career, taking in spells at Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and finally Spurs. If selected against either Hull City or Everton it would see him surpass Manchester City goalkeeper John Burridge as the oldest ever Premier League player.
Friedel cited his inability to deal with the physical and mental rigours of the Premier League any longer as the reason he chose to retire.
“I always wanted to play as long as I could but there’s two things that go with that – one is physically being able to which I still am, two is mentally wanting to do it.”It’s not as easy as people think, waking up every morning, then we just collect our wage, we turn up at training and say hello to everyone and go away. I’ve reached that point where mentally I am ready to call it a day.
Friedel holds the record for the most consecutive Premier League appearances, notching up 310 between August 2004 and November 2012. Friedel also has 82 caps for the USA national team.