Middlesbrough send message as goalkeeper Luke Daniels announces retirement from football

Former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Luke Daniels has announced his retirement from football, aged 36.

Daniels was a free agent again this summer after leaving Forest Green Rovers following their relegation from the EFL. He made 20 appearances for them before injury ultimately ended his season prematurely and he was unable to help as they finished bottom of League Two.

Posting a picture of himself heading down the tunnel with his kids at the Riverside, Daniels took to social media and wrote: "After 20 years its time to retire from playing football. It has been a privilege to have represented so many fantastic football clubs over the years and I have been so fortunate to have shared a dressing room with so many amazing players and people. I got to live my dream!" Replying to the post on X, Boro wrote: "Congrats on a great career Luke."

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Daniels spent two years at Boro before leaving on a free last summer and joining League Two side Forest Green Rovers. He made 12 appearances for Boro in total in his first season after eventually displacing Joe Lumley following his late arrival at the club and a manager change.

Despite ending the season in decent form, Daniels dropped down the pecking order to become third choice in the 2022-23 season after Zack Steffen arrived on loan from Manchester City and Liam Roberts joined on a free from Northampton Town. As such, he made no appearances in that campaign before deciding to leave the club over staying on as a third choice.

At the time, sources close to Daniels spoke of how much of a pleasure Daniels had found playing for Boro and going to training each day, particularly after Michael Carrick's arrival. However, then 35 and keen to prolong his playing career a little longer, he decided to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Prior to joining Boro, Daniels won promotion with Brentford and also played for West Brom, Scunthorpe United, Southend United, Bristol Rovers, Rochdale, Charlton, Tranmere, Shrewsbury and Motherwell.