Former Premier League footballer to retire at 32 with shock new career move lined up

Premier League Henri Lansbury

Former Premier League star Henri Lansbury is set to retire at the age of 32

PA
Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 26/07/2023

- 12:13

The midfielder rose through the ranks at Arsenal

Former Premier League star Henri Lansbury has confirmed he's set to quit football at the age of 32.

The midfielder came through the Arsenal academy and, at one point, was seen as a player with the potential to become a household name with the Gunners.


Lansbury has also played for the likes of Scunthorpe United, Watford, Norwich City, West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Bristol City and Luton Town during his career.

And he's now confirmed to talkSPORT that he's primed to retire and is set to work on the pitch of Ligue 1 side Monaco with Grass Gains.

Former Premier League star Henri Lansbury

Henri Lansbury last played for Luton

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He explained: “It came about during the first lockdown when I was stuck at home and got into gardening.

“I started to spray my weeds with toxic stuff and put toxic fertiliser down and my missus wasn’t too happy about the kids running on the grass straight after.

“I was trying to usher them off and she said ‘why can’t they just make an organic fertiliser?’

“I put my head together with my mate and me and the boys have cracked on and taken it to another level.”

Lansbury's new venture is set to see him work at Monaco, having previously worked on pitches at Fulham and Genk.

“We’ve done Fulham, we’ve done Genk and we’re in at Monaco soon,” he said.

“We’re going in the right direction, a few local clubs have asked for it and we’ve put it down on their pitches as well.

“I want to give back to the local clubs really, I want them to have a nice pitch to play on, there’s nothing better than a kid running on a pitch with stripes on it and that’s what it does, it helps stripe it off.”

Lansbury famously did a lawn-mowing celebration during a match with Luton last season.

But while the minnows secured promotion to the Premier League last season, he won't be joining them in the top-flight.
Lansbury has also revealed he's in touch with Arsenal's groundsman.

He said: “It’s taken off really, and during the summer I’ve not kept fit and I’ve gone full-time on this, next week we have a meeting with Homebase.

“It was a massive weight off my shoulders really, I was injured before the World Cup and I haven’t been the same since.

“I haven’t really got any feeling in my legs, they had to operate and cut all the nerves in my thigh, I can train but it’s not been the same.

“Do I go back and try and force it or do I end on a high?

"My wife wants me out of the house but I said I’ll go and cut the grass.”

Lansbury has won a handful of honours during his time in the game.

He helped propel Arsenal to FA Youth Cup glory in the 2008/2009 season, with Liverpool beaten in the final.

Lansbury helped West Ham secure promotion to the Premier League in 2012 with a play-off win that year.

Henri Lansbury

Henri Lansbury rose through the ranks at Arsenal

PA

And Lansbury also propelled Aston Villa to the Premier League in 2019 with another play-off win, too.

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