Former West Ham man announces retirement aged 33 as he targets management

Former West Ham winger Junior Stanislas has announced his retirement from the game at the age 33. The ex-England youth international has made the decision to hang up his boots.

He cut ties with AFC Bournemouth at the end of last season after his contract with the Cherries expired at the end of June. Stanislas rose up through the academy at West Ham and was a regular for the London club at various youth levels. He then broke into the first-team in 2008 and went on to make 47 appearances, chipping in with eight goals.

The Londoner has told talkSPORT: “It’s been a little while coming. I probably made the decision back end of last year. I think a good few injuries over the last few years and they take their toll. So I think a new chapter going forward, and excited to get going with that really.”

Stanislas spent nine years at Bournemouth and helped them gain promotion to the Premier League twice. He believes those achievements were two of the best highlights of his career: “I think those promotions, probably. I think growing up through the academy at West Ham, I would always say a highlight was my making my debut, something you work hard for your entire life.

“Those promotions, you and your teammates set out on a journey beginning of the season. And then when you achieve the goal at the end, I think it’s always a positive journey.”

He is now looking to get into management: “That’s the aim. That’s the dream. Again, obviously starting right back at the beginning, but one I’m looking forward to really. Last few years, been doing all my badges, done my B licence, done my A licence the last couple of years.

“So just looking forward to getting some work done on the grass and then hopefully in a few years, like you say, be in the dugout. That’s the main aim.”