Wellington Phoenix defender Steven Taylor is retiring from football, just days after being appointed captain for the 2021/22 A-League season.
On Friday, the Englishman was unveiled as the leader of the NZ club for their upcoming campaign, which begins on November 21, playing in a pre-season fixture against Wellington club side Miramar Rangers on Saturday.
But Taylor, 35, has since informed coach Ufuk Talay of his shock decision to hang up his boots and return to the UK.
While he was confident his body could withstand another season in the A-league, Taylor doesn't want to spend another year in Australia, separated from his family. The club will be based in New South Wales until at least January, due to the COVID-19 border restrictions.
He informed the team of his "tough" decision after their warm-up match at Miramar last weekend, insisting he had no intention of signing for any other club.
"The thought of having to re-locate and hub again – I got caught in a lockdown at the end of last season and then again [in Wellington] one day after I got out of managed isolation – it feels like it’s followed me everywhere," Taylor says. "I haven’t had any type of a normal life for some time.
"There’s only so much of that I can take and I haven’t seen my family [in the UK] in a long time.
"It's come to that period of my life where family is more important than football and I’m excited for the next chapter and to see my family back home in the UK."
Taylor began his professional career in 2003, making almost 300 appearances for England's Newcastle United.
In 2018, he came to New Zealand and played two seasons for the Phoenix, spending a brief stint in India, before returning for their 2021 campaign and leading them to a rare appearance in the A-League playoffs. He signed a one-year extension at the end of last season.
Anchoring the team's defence, Taylor's dogged play made him a Phoenix fan favourite and his departure will leave a significant void in the team's backfield.
Reflecting on his time with the Phoenix, Taylor says the club provided to him a timely opportunity to reinvigorate his career abroad, after a debilitating run with injuries in England.
"I remember the first day I came out here, I saw it as a challenge, something exciting," he recalls. "At the time [the Phoenix] had that underdog tag and I thrived on it. That first year we were like a bunch of misfits put together, who delivered and it was an incredible first season for me.
"And that kind of kick-started the Phoenix into believing, and then [next season] Uffie came in and the plan he put in place helped take us to the next level.
"Looking back, I got to play for my hometown club at Newcastle United and live the dream until I was 30. I wanted to keep playing after the injuries I had back then – a snapped Achilles, bicep tendon snapped, two dislocated shoulders – and I remember people at the time thinking 'this warhorse, we’re going to need to put him down'.
"But I wanted to keep going and I got my chance with the Phoenix. It was a great platform, something exciting and new – and I don’t think my family expected me to fall in love with Wellington as much as I have so it's a credit to everyone at the Phoenix, the Wellingtonians and the Kiwis who made it feel like a second home to me."
Phoenix general manager David Dome says he sympathises with Taylor's situation, adding the veteran defender had left an indelible mark at the club which will endure long after his departure.
"Steven has been a solid leader for us over the past three seasons, and so - in addition to showing our appreciation for his effort and skill on the field - we thank him sincerely for that leadership and the positive values he has helped instil on our younger players in the squad," says Dome.
"COVID has been tough on this club and its players and staff over the past two years and especially for Steven. He's had seven stints in quarantine, which is about three months alone in a hotel room in the past two plus years, and that kind of thing can take a toll on a person both mentally and physically.
"We have the utmost respect for Steven and wish him all the best for his post-playing career back in England. We know he'll approach this next phase of his life with the same courage and determination as he did his Phoenix playing career."
Talay says Taylor would be keenly missed, both on and off the field.
"We're disappointed that we're losing a great human being first, and also a great footballer," says Talay.
"At the end of the day, we wish him the best with his future endeavours and thank him for his contributions."
