Former Swan Pratley retires aged 40
- Published
Former Swansea City midfielder Darren Pratley, the scorer of one of the most memorable goals in the club's history, has announced his retirement at the age of 40.
Pratley made 199 appearances and scored 31 goals during five years at Swansea, helping the club win the League One title in 2007-08 and then promotion to the Premier League in 2010-11.
Brendan Rodgers' Swansea side climbed into the top flight via the Championship play-offs.
Pratley's finest moment in the Swansea shirt came in the semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest, when he scored from the halfway line to put an end Forest's hopes and ensure Rodgers' men were going to Wembley.
With his contract up, Pratley opted to leave Swansea for Bolton that summer and went on to play for Wanderers for seven years.
A Fulham product who had loan spells at Brentford before moving to Wales, Pratley moved to Charlton after leaving Bolton in 2018 and has spent the last four years of his career at Leyton Orient.
Pratley, who made more than 700 senior appearances, will now take up a coaching role with Orient's under-21 side.
"I have enjoyed a great playing career – I would love to live it all over again – but having spoken with my family I believe that now is the right time to start the next stage of my career," Pratley told the Orient website.