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Jose Baxter
Everton’s youngest ever player Jose Baxter has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29.
Jose Baxter wrote: “Today I announce my retirement from football I write this today with lots of mixed emotions. But let me tell you about my roller coaster career. From being a kid from council estate with dreams like everyone else. I set myself 4 goals / dreams at 13. I managed to tick 3 of (sic) by 20. Last one I never got to do From playing in Premier League , Europa League, Captaining country at youth level, scoring at Wembley in FA Cup Semi Finals to playing hundreds of league games, travelling the world playing football and still sit here feeling down and I underachieved. But my own silly mistakes got in the way and 3 years out the game at 21 coming back with my body never being the same was always a uphill battle. I would like to thank every person who’s been apart of my journey. From my coaches at Everton (Tosh, Robbie, lloydy Martin etc) as a kid to my first loan manager to every manager I had (Les Parry, Paul Dickov, Paul Scholes, Nigel Adkins, Nigel Clough, David Moyes, Ryan Lowe ). Every set of fans I played for (Everton , Tranmere, Sheffield United, Oldham, Plymouth, Memphis901) and mostly my family and friends (Mum , Dad, Liv, Cindy , Dave , Kim , Hana , Kim, Nans Peter & Col who stuck by me through the bad times as well as the good. So if I could say some words my 13 year old self who had them dreams it would be YOU LIVED IT SON. Thank you Jose”
The 29-year-old went on to make 15 appearances in the blue of Everton, playing a total of 238 games and scoring 52 goals during his career. Despite his achievement with the Blues and stints Sheffield United, Oldham Athletic, Plymouth Argyle and a spell in America, he says he still feels like he underachieved. Baxter made his Premier League debut under David Moyes in Everton’s opening day defeat to Blackburn Rovers in 2008 when he was aged just 16 and 191 days. He was signed for Sheffield United by former Blues defender David Weir but was suspended from football after failing a drugs test during his time with the Blades in 2015 and was released in 2016. But he was handed a lifeline with the Toffees, who offered him a 12-month contract to help him get back into football. He spent time on loan with the Latics before joining Plymouth Argyle and then Memphis 901 – who are co-owned by former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.
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