Former Wales and Burnley forward Sam Vokes announces retirement
Former Clarets favourite Sam Vokes has announced he is to hang up his boots and play his final professional match this weekend.
The Wales international forward who played for Burnley Football Club from 2011 to 2019, has announced he will will retire from professional football following his current team Gillingham’s Saturday's Sky Bet League 2 fixture at home to Shrewsbury Town.
The big centre-forward (36) was a popular figure at Turf Moor where he scored 62 goals in 230 appearances, helping the team to win promotion to the Premier League on two occasions.
He also represented his country Wales winning 64 caps and scoring 11 goals.
Sam said in a statement today: “This Saturday's match at Gillingham will be my last. I feel now is the right time to retire from a career I have absolutely loved.
“Never did I dream I would be fortunate enough to have played across all four divisions and represent some amazing clubs.”
During a successful career, Vokes also represented Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City and Wycombe Wanderers, as well as spells on loan at several other clubs.
Clarets fans will no doubt always remember the centre-forward for scoring the club's first European goal in over half a century from close range for an equaliser away to Aberdeen in the 2018-19 season.
Another highlight was when Vokes scored his first Premier League goal on August 20th 2016 at Turf Moor in a 2–0 win against Liverpool.
After then-manager Sean Dyche allowed Vokes to leave Turf Moor, he joined Stoke City on January 31st 2019 on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.