Ex West Ham star and Leeds United legend announces retirement - 'proper player' Hammers 'needed yesterday'

Former West Ham United star and Scotland international Robert Snodgrass has announced his retirement from football after more than 600 professional games, including 86 Hammers appearances between 2017 and 2021.

The 36-year-old most recently played for Hearts in the Scottish premiership, appearing 25 times before being released in April. Snodgrass began his career at Livingston before moving to Leeds United, for whom he played nearly 200 times and helped to promotion to the Championship in 2010.

Following his career at Elland Road, the midfielder attracted attention from the Premier League and signed for Norwich before moving on to Hull City and then West Ham in 2017. Snodgrass came to the London Stadium on a £10.2 million deal when Slaven Bilic was manager.

The Scotsman spent most of the 2017/18 season on loan at Aston Villa, where he helped the side to an unsuccessful play-off final. On his return to West Ham, he bagged a League Cup brace and featured regularly for the side.

Posting on social media, Snodgrass said: “A little lad from the east end of Glasgow got to live his childhood dream for 20 years playing at 10 great clubs, meeting amazing people and building relationships with staff and people around those clubs.

“Getting to represent my country, playing over 600 games scoring over 100 goals and 100 assists is something I would have never imagined doing. Then getting told in 2014 I might never play football again after a (potentially) career-ending knee injury to then come back and play another 250-plus games is something I am grateful for.”

Snodgrass hinted that he will now look to pursue a career in coaching, adding: “I will miss this beautiful game but after the last 6 months it’s time to give my knowledge and help to the next generation.”

West Ham shared a short clip showing a few of Snodgrass' spectacular moments for the club on social media, congratulating their former player on a 'great career'. A number of supporters in the comments asked the midfielder to return to the club in a coaching capacity.

One West Ham fan labelled Snodgrass a 'proper player' with another adding that the team 'needed someone like him yesterday'. Another wrote: "Loved Snodgrass at West Ham! Exciting player."