Former Tottenham and England striker Darren Bent has announced his retirement from football at the age of 35.
Bent, who most recently played for League One side Burton Albion – playing his last professional game against Preston North End in May 2018 – scored 25 goals in 79 appearances for Spurs in a testing two year spell between 2007 and 2009.
At the time, he was Tottenham’s record-signing after joining from Charlton Athletic for around £16.5, but scored just eight Premier League goals in a disappointing debut campaign at White Hart Lane, failing to justify his transfer fee.
However, Bent improved in his second season in North London, helping Spurs reach the League Cup final where they lost on penalties to Manchester United, and achieve an 8th-place finish despite Harry Redknapp’s side being bottom of the table having famously collected just two points from their opening eight Premier League matches.
The striker scored 17 goals in all competions that season, but was sold to Sunderland in the summer of 2009 where he would enjoy the most prolific season of his career – netting 25 times, with 24 coming in the Premier League – only Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney scored more.
Bent would also go on to play for Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham and Derby County and has been doing some pundit work for Sky Sports, whilst being a regular guest on the show The Debate.
He hangs his boots up with a record of 211 goals in 558 career games.
If only you’d follow his lead.