Stuart Dallas said he was “at peace” with the early end of his playing career after announcing his retirement from football at the age of 32.
The Leeds United midfielder confirmed earlier today (Wednesday) that his career was over almost two years on from suffering a serious leg injury.
Dallas had not played a single first-team minute in that time and revealed he had undergone around seven different operations in an attempt to recover from a fractured femur and knee damage sustained in a Premier League game against Manchester City in April 2022.
The Northern Ireland international said his decision to retire had been taken several weeks ago but kept private until he told the rest of Leeds’ first-team squad this morning.
“I’m glad it’s out there,” Dallas said. “It’s a decision which I’m really clear in my mind is the right decision. I’m happy.
“All along I never lost hope (of making a comeback) but more and more over the last few months, I’ve realised it was going to be really difficult. My body just won’t get back to doing what I need to do at an elite level.
“I’ve got to deal with that and accept it. Mentally, I’m totally fine. I’m at peace with it. I’m gutted but there are people in far worse positions than me. I’m fortunate to have had the career I’ve had.”
Dallas was hurt during a 4-0 defeat by City at Elland Road after attempting to tackle Jack Grealish.
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Leeds players warmed up wearing a t-shirt in support of Stuart Dallas ahead of their league game at Arsenal in May 2022 (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
He underwent immediate surgery with specialists in London and said he realised then that his career might be under threat.
His bid to return saw him resume first-team training earlier this season but Dallas was unable to raise his fitness to a standard which made another competitive outing possible.
“I knew (how serious the damage was) from the first minute I did the injury,” Dallas said. “I was concerned then, of course I was. Everybody was.
“To be here now (to the extent that Dallas has recovered) — we’ve won, and that describes how serious the injury was.
“I got back on the pitch, I was moving around and doing well but I just needed more. I’ve had setbacks and two infections in there. I’ve been to surgery so many times, I think seven times. I’ve been to theatre about 10 times. That itself tells its own story.
“I said to the physios that the reward was to get back on the pitch for them. The reward changed to being fit and healthy after football. I’m not fit to get to the level I need to be at. I can’t physically get to it. I don’t believe that if I was younger that I’d come back with this. The injury’s been so serious.”
Dallas has not played since suffering the injury almost two years ago (Getty Images)
Dallas said he had tried not to dwell on the incident involving Grealish and had spoken about making the most of a professional career with two of his younger Leeds team-mates, goalkeeper Illan Meslier and midfielder Jamie Shackleton.
“They were eating their lunch and we were talking about it,” Dallas said. “I said, ‘Lads, just enjoy it because in a split second it can be over.’
“I played (the tackle on Grealish) over and over in my head but that only eats you up. Don’t get me wrong, there are days when you do think about it but you have to master your own mind.
“By no means am I a psychologist and I didn’t feel the need to speak to a psychologist through the whole process. I’ve been strong enough in my own mind not to let myself slip into that.
“I get that the whole mental side of things is rife in the game, I understand that and I get that other people aren’t fortunate enough to be able to do this. I just felt I couldn’t let myself fall into that hole.
“I’ve got a wife and three kids who mean more to me than anything. I couldn’t be dragged into that.”
(Top photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
