Matt Murray has announced that he is retiring from professional football.
Read the full story on the official site: http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2135293,00.html
This is such a sad, but predictable end, to what should have been a career at the very highest level.
Regardless, we’ll all remember Matt fondly for some towering performances, not least his heroics in that play-off final against Sheffield United back in 2003.
Despite being plagued with injury for almost his entire career, he was also voted player of the season in 2006, Mick McCarthy’s first year at the club. The highlight of that particular campaign for me was the 1-0 home win over Albion in which Matt single-handedly kept the Baggies out with a string of fine saves.
I’ve never met him, but anyone I’ve spoken to who has always says the same thing, ‘what a top bloke’.
Hopefully there’s a role for him at the club, but whatever he goes on to do, good luck to him.
Thanks for the memories Matty!
An awful shame but the right and brave decision in the end.
Good luck for the future Matty – we will all remember the good times.
gutted . fantastic bloke , great keeper , could have been englands keeper . AND HE LOVES WOLVES
Sad news – always seems like a good bloke, and the result could’ve been very different if he didn’t save that penalty in the play off final.
If he hadn’t been so injury prone, I don’t doubt he’d have been at the World Cup.
Hopefully he’ll stick with Wolves in some capacity. If not, expect to see him turn up as Cardiff City’s goalkeeping coach soon!
Met him very recently, he was asked about his fitness and told them he needed a few reserve matches. He was a top bloke aswell. What a shame.
This is dreadful. I remember how amazing he was in that first season under Mick. That’s a real, real shame for the club.
Shame, but inevitable. Met him twice, one Wolves event and one non-footballing occasion and he really was a top bloke. I was only a “young” wolf at the time and he was a top chap, really had a lot of time to chat etc.
Wish him all the best with his future.
Although inevitable, it’s still a shock. Such a brilliant keeper and could’ve gone to the very top. You only have to look at the keepers Capello picked a few weeks back.
He won us so many points in 06/07, and that Albion game sticks out. They basically murdered us the whole game, i remember a great save from Diomansy Kamara. Legend
So, so sad. My favourite Wolves player of the last decade by a mile.
The best keeper i’ve ever seen for the Wolves.
A true gent.
He’s a smart guy though, i’m sure he’ll find work within the game, hopefully with the Wolves.
Yep – echo everyones views really.
Its a sad day for him but surely a relief in some way – at least he can move on from it. He’s lived the dream so not all bad….. he hasn’t died or owt.
Some nice quotes from him here: http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2135444,00.html
One thing I remember from the 2003 play off final is the end, after the trophy had been handed over, he was wearing some stupid wig or hat, he stood looking, alone, looking out at the crowd, as if he was just drinking it all in and remembering the moment, and couldn’t quite believe what had happened.
I seem to recall reading – in a programme or something – that he also sponsors a school in Africa. Good guy.
This boy is old school… He started as a kid with Wolves, watched the multi-million pound players (his friends who he had grown up with at Wolves) leave for the premiership/champions league/better money.
Then when given the chance to sign for one of those clubs too, he turns it down to stay loyal to the club who gave him his career and for regular football (a proper player). I know Matt (through his brother) and me and my mates have tried to pursuad him to come to the villa (sorry guys!) but he is a true player, loyal, talented, committed and a gentleman. I feel it is not just a loss to the club… but a massive loss to the game when players like Matt retire.
I hope you lot don’t mind a Villa fan posting his comments here, but I wanted to pay my respects to a player that has always done everything possible for his club, kept his chin up and always stayed professional. He is in the same calibre as Milner, and if injuries weren’t so frequent I am sure he would have been Englands No 1. I would also like to pay tribute to Wolves and the loyalty they showed him, very impressive for such a big club.
Nice one Motty.
It’s nice to know that someone outside of Wolves appreciated his immense talent.
I was always one of those optimistic people who thought he’d get back fit at some point and play on for at least a few more years.
Wasn’t to be.
Good luck to Villa this season (two fixtures aside). Hard to tell at this early stage how it might pan out for you. A top seven finish would probably be a good return based on recent events.
Nice one! I think top 7 is a dream finish. If we can stay top half and bed the young lads then it will be a good year.
One shame for Matty is that arrogant idiot Platt who refused to take him off at half time in an England U21 friendly which did his back in for the whole Prem season u came up. If only he had listened to the player, we might not be having this thread!
Never mind the play off penalty save, the one that turned the game and made Sheffield’s hearts break was that one in the first half………….from Ince!!
Such a fantastic reaction save!!
Like Bully, he was never destined to grace the Prem, sad, sad, sad.
We all wish him well for the future.
He did play one game in the Prem but we shouldn’t talk about that one…
Yeah with a bad back thanks to David Platt. And then the Jones had the nerve to blame Matty for playing the England U21 game. A joke!!
there’s nothig to say that hasn’t already been said about Matt.
it’s a real shame he has never been able to show more than Wolves, and the odd Villa, fans his ability.
IMO he would have been England no 1.
good luck to him and hopefully we can get him involved with the club