Former England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has retired from football at the age of 34 – and moved immediately into management.
Shelvey has taken charge of Arabian Falcons in the United Arab Emirates’ third tier, having played for the Dubai club since September.
Former Crystal Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon is the club’s co-owner and head of football operations, while ex-Manchester United wonderkid Ravel Morrison is also in the team’s ranks.
“My ambition is to climb to the very top of management and this is the perfect project to prove myself and what I’m capable of,” Shelvey said.
Shelvey, who started his career at Charlton, previously turned out for the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle and Swansea across a 13-year stint in the Premier League while also making six appearances for England, all of which came under Roy Hodgson.
After a brief spell at Nottingham Forest, he left the English top-flight for Turkey, donning the shirts of Caykur Rizespor and Eyupspor before again returning to England to play for Burnley during the second half of the 2024/25 Championship season.
He made the switch to Arabian Falcons last year and has since made the headlines for insisting he had left England behind.
“I don’t want my children growing up in England any more,” he told BBC Sport.
“We’re very lucky that we lived in a nice part of the UK but where I’m from, originally, you can’t have nice things in my opinion.
“I’d never wear a watch in London any more. You can’t have your phone out in London, in my view.”
A documentary will follow Shelvey trying to lead Arabian Falcons to promotion in the final five games of the season. His side currently sit fourth in the table.
