Last update on. From the section Football
Steven Taylor was the captain of A-League side Wellington Phoenix
Steven Taylor, a former Newcastle defender, has announced his retirement from professional football. He said he wanted "a normal lifestyle" after prolonged periods of quarantine with A-League side Wellington Phoenix.
David Dome, general manager of Phoenix, estimated that the 35-year old had spent "three months alone" in a hotel room because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Taylor, who captained New Zealand's team, will be returning to England.
He said, "Family is greater than football."
"The idea of having to relocate again and be a hub... Taylor explained that Taylor was caught in a lockdown after the last season, and again one day later when I emerged from managed isolation.
It feels like it has been with me everywhere. For a while, I've had no normal life.
"I'm looking forward to the next chapter, and to seeing my family back in the UK."
Taylor played for Newcastle for 13 years, making 268 appearances. After stints at Peterborough United and Ipswich Town, he joined Phoenix in 2018.
Because of travel problems during the pandemic, the Wellington side has been based in Australia for most of the past two seasons. Dome stressed how difficult it was to relocate.
He said that Covid had been hard on the club, its players, and staff for the past two seasons and particularly Steven.
"[He] has had] six stints of quarantine, that is three months in a hotel room. This was over the past two-odd year. This kind of thing can take a lot out of a person.
Taylor's decision comes at a time when some England cricketers are considering pulling out of the December Ashes due to Australia's Covid-19 regulations. It is also uncertain if their families will be able to travel. England netball had to cancel several matches in Australia recently.
