Steven Davis, the former Southampton captain and Northern Ireland record holder, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 39. Davis, who played for Southampton for seven years, was forced to end his career due to a serious knee injury he sustained in December 2022.

Davis joined Southampton in 2012, following spells at Aston Villa and Fulham, and became a key player for the Saints, helping them achieve four consecutive top-eight finishes in the Premier League. He also led the team to the 2017 League Cup final, where they narrowly lost to Manchester United.

During his time at Southampton, Davis made 226 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing 12 assists. He was also voted the club’s Player of the Season in 2016 and was appointed an MBE in 2017 for services to football.

Davis left Southampton in 2019 to return to his boyhood club Rangers, where he won two Scottish Premiership titles and reached two European finals. He also broke the UK men’s international caps record with 140 appearances for Northern Ireland, captaining them to their first major tournament in 30 years at Euro 2016.

Davis was widely respected and admired by his teammates, managers, and fans for his professionalism, leadership, and quality on the pitch. He was described by former Southampton manager Ronald Koeman as “a fantastic player and a fantastic person”.

All supporters of Southampton FC and members of the Saints Archive have expressed their gratitude and appreciation for Davis’s contributions to the club and wished him all the best for his next role. Davis, who briefly served as interim manager of Rangers after the sacking of Michael Beale in October, has not revealed his future plans yet, but has hinted at a possible coaching career.

Davis said in a statement: “It has been an honour and a privilege to represent my country and the clubs I have played for. I have enjoyed every moment of my career and I am very proud of what I have achieved. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way, especially my family, friends, and fans. I will always cherish the memories we have shared together.”