Triple Hammer of the Year hangs up his boots

  • by Staff Writer
  • Wednesday, 28th June 2017

Former Hammer of the Year Scott Parker has announced his retirement from football.

The 36-year-old midfielder confirmed this morning (Wednesday) that he will be hanging up his boots following a professional career that spanned some 20 years.

Parker, who was born in Lambeth began his career at Charlton, where he became a first team regular in 2000 following a spell on loan at Norwich City.




In 2004 - and much to the annoyance of Addicks Alan Curbishley, who accused Parker of poor conduct - he signed a four-year contract with Chelsea, after the two clubs had agreed a fee in the region of £10million.

However his spell at Stamford Bridge was to prove short-lived and unhappy, with a metatarsal injury playing a major role in Parker making just four appearances for Chelsea's first team.

Just a year after joining the Blues, Parker was on his way to Newcastle United in a £6.5million deal - although his first season at St James' Park was also blighted by injury with a bout of glandular fever ending his season prematurely in March - thus ruling him out of the 2006 World Cup Finals.




His second season was far more productive and he was named club captain by Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder. But he failed to fully settle on Tyneside and in June 2007 was brought back to London by West Ham's ambitious new Icelandic owners, in a £7million deal.

Injury prevented Parker from making his debut for the Hammers until the end of September, and he was sidelined again after making his Premier League debut against Arsenal. However he recovered sufficiently to be voted Signing of the Season by KUMB readers and the KUMB Writers' Player of the Year.

Parker was named as Hammer of the Year and KUMB Player of the Year for the first time at the end of the 2008/09 season - an achievement he went on to emulate in 2009/10 and 2010/11, thus becoming the first player to win the award three times consecutively.




However relegation at the end of that season was the beginning of the end for Parker at West Ham. After just four games in the Championship - during which he was accused of not giving 100 per cent, in much the same way as Curbishley had claimed prior to his Chelsea move - he joined Tottenham in deal worth in the region of £5million.

Parker spent the next two season at White Hart Lane before moving to Fulham, with whom he ended his career. KUMB would like to wish Scott the very best for his impending retirement.

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