Former Everton defender Conor Coady has announced his retirement from football.

The 33-year-old confirmed the news on Instagram, sharing a compilation video of his career with the caption: “Lived the dream. Eternally Grateful, Thank you.”

Jack Grealish, who was a teammate of his for England, was quick to pay tribute in the comments, writing: “Nearly got me going. Unbelievable career and what a human!! Enjoy retirement brother”, signing off with a couple of blue hearts.

Born and raised in Merseyside, Coady came through Liverpool’s academy before making his name at Wolves, where he became club captain and a regular for England.

He joined Everton on a season-long loan in 2022/23, playing 25 games under Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche and scoring twice. The Toffees had an option to buy him for around £12million but decided against it, which looks the right call in hindsight.

From there, Coady joined Leicester City and was part of the squad that won the Championship in 2023/24. He moved to Wrexham in 2025 on a two-year deal, but it didn’t work out for him at all. He made just six appearances in the first half of last season, then spent the second half on loan at Charlton, before his Wrexham contract was mutually terminated in the summer.

Since then, he’s been coaching with Liverpool’s Under-21s and has been making the transition into media, appearing as a pundit on programmes such as Sky Sports.

Fittingly, his retirement comes on the day Lampard, the manager who brought him to Everton, returns to Hill Dickinson Stadium with Coventry.