Former Ipswich Town star announces retirement at the age of 37

Bartosz Bialkowski, a former Blues goalkeeper, has declared his retirement at age 37.

The former Polish international departed Millwall at the end of last season and has decided to hang up his gloves.

“I rejected several choices and concluded that I was happy where I was now, in Spain, with my family. Something is over. He informed Kanałem Sportowym that he is nearing the end of his career.

“I could play for another year or two since I feel well physically. However, such burnout and tiredness from football.”

Bialkowski joined Town on loan from Southampton in March 2009, although he did not make a senior game during his time there, despite the Blues’ desire to buy him permanently that summer.

But it took until July 2014 for him to return on a permanent basis from Notts County, where he had spent an excellent two seasons.

The 6ft 4in tall goalkeeper rapidly established himself as Town’s number one, making 177 starts and one substitute appearance before joining Millwall on loan in the summer of 2019.

While at the Blues, Bialkowski became the first player to win three consecutive Town Player of the Year accolades, from 2016 to 2018.

While at Portman Road, he earned one Poland cap and was named to the World Cup roster in 2018, but did not play.

He was in goal for Mick McCarthy’s Blues when they reached the play-offs in 2014/15.