John O’Shea announces he is set to retire at end of season

O'Shea's announcement comes on his 38th birthday

Former Manchester United defender John O'Shea has announced he will retire at the end of the season. O'Shea played for United over 250 times after graduating from the club's academy system. He left in 2011 for Sunderland, staying at the Stadium of Light until last summer when he departed for Reading on a one-year deal. The Irishman won five Premier League titles and the Champions League while at Old Trafford. He was also capped 118 times by his national side. His retirement was confirmed by a tweet from Reading. 'A fabulous playing career is coming to a close,' the tweet read. 'Today, on his 38th birthday, John O'Shea has announced he is to retire at the end of the season.' https://twitter.com/ReadingFC/status/1123202844239130626 Many football fans have congratulated O'Shea on his career since the announcement was made, with United supporters fondly remembering his late winner against Liverpool at Anfield in 2007 and the time he nutmegged Luis Figo during a 2003 Champions League encounter with Real Madrid. Plenty of United fans also joked that O'Shea may now seal an instant return to Old Trafford admin rumours the club are seeking to employ former players as part of a staffing restructure this summer. Earlier on Tuesday, his former teammate Rio Ferdinand was the latest to be linked with a sporting director role at United, with Mike Phelan and Darren Fletcher also reportedly being lined up for positions. The reaction to the news was an inevitable one: https://twitter.com/Vintage_Utd/status/1123230210550370305 https://twitter.com/_scottsaunders/status/1123210361212026880 https://twitter.com/coggie99/status/1123204850253225985 https://twitter.com/TheRealRYAN1987/status/1123209386707623938 https://twitter.com/StrettyNews/status/1123209782004002818