A former footballer who previously played for Newcastle United has decided to retire from professional football, marking the end of his career nine years after leaving St James’ Park.
This former Newcastle United and French football star, Loic Remy, has officially announced his retirement at the age of 36. Remy’s time at Newcastle United, where he arrived in 2013, is particularly notable as he is remembered as one of the club’s most successful loan signings in recent memory.
Before his stint at Newcastle, Remy began his football journey at Lyon and gained recognition in Ligue 1 with successful spells at Nice and Marseille, where he won two French League Cups. Known for his remarkable speed and scoring ability, Remy’s talent caught the attention of Newcastle United’s manager at the time, Alan Pardew, who had a reputation for signing French talent during his tenure.
In January 2013, when Newcastle was fighting to avoid relegation to the Championship, they seemed to be the frontrunners to sign Remy. However, the French striker chose to join QPR, who offered him a more lucrative contract, according to reports.
Remy eventually made his way to Newcastle on a loan deal six months later, as QPR adjusted to playing in the English second tier. He became an instant sensation on Tyneside and played a significant role in the club’s performance that season.
During his time at Newcastle, Remy made 26 appearances in the Premier League and scored 14 goals. He is fondly remembered by fans for his match-winning goals against teams like Chelsea, Tottenham, and Aston Villa, contributing to the club’s 10th-place finish in the league. This was one of the rare occasions when Newcastle finished in the top half of the table during Mike Ashley’s ownership.
Subsequently, Remy’s potential permanent transfer dominated headlines, but he ultimately moved to Chelsea on deadline day, where he played a role in the club’s Premier League and League Cup double in his debut season.
Remy spent two years at Chelsea as a backup striker and had a brief loan spell at Crystal Palace. After leaving English football in 2017, he spent the final six years of his career playing for various clubs, including Las Palmas, Getafe, Lille, Caykur Rizespor, Adana Demirspor, and Brest.
In the latter part of his career, Remy faced significant challenges due to injuries, but he still boasts an impressive record of 140 goals in 407 competitive matches and scored seven goals in 30 international appearances for France.