Caolan Lavery, a former striker for Sheffield Wednesday, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 31. Lavery, who joined the Owls’ academy in 2012 after starting in the youth setup at Ipswich Town, experienced his first regular stint with the first team during the 2013/14 season. During that campaign, he managed to score four goals in 18 Championship games.
Throughout his career with Sheffield Wednesday, Lavery spent loan periods at several clubs, including Southend United, Plymouth Argyle, Chesterfield, and Portsmouth. Despite his efforts, he struggled to firmly establish himself at Hillsborough. In 2016, he made a notable move across the city, joining Sheffield United after declining a new contract with Wednesday. After recently parting ways with Doncaster Rovers, it was initially believed that Lavery would seek new opportunities in his career. However, following medical advice, he has decided to retire. On social media, Lavery shared, “The time has come for me to hang up my boots. Due to the knee injury I sustained back in February 2023, my surgeon has advised me to cease playing professional football. I did everything in my power to try and get back to doing what I love. Thank you to everyone who has been there along the way. The good times and the bad have made me into the person I am today. Good luck to all the boys with their upcoming season and careers.”
During his tenure with Sheffield Wednesday, Lavery made 39 appearances and scored six goals. One of his standout performances came in 2014 when he scored twice in a 6-0 victory over Leeds United at Hillsborough.