AFC Bournemouth gem Ben Greenwood has paid tribute to Gary Cahill while speaking with HITC Football. The centre-back announced his retirement aged 36 on Wednesday morning.
Cahill spent what would be the final year of his career at the Vitality Stadium last season as they clinched promotion into the Premier League under Scott Parker. He featured 22 times as the Cherries finished the Championship term in second after joining on a one-year deal.
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Parker sought to sign Cahill to add experience to a youthful squad on the south coast. The 61-cap England international arrived with a Champions League, two Premier League, two Europa League, two FA Cup and an EFL Cup winners’ medal in a decorated trophy cabinet.
Gary Cahill announces his retirement at 36 after leaving Bournemouth
Cahill enjoyed a 15-year top-flight career after making his Premier League debut for Aston Villa in 2006. The Dronfield-born enforcer went on to make 394 appearances in the league, 65 in the second-tier, 50 in European competitions and a further 39 in the domestic cups.
He also featured at two World Cups with England after spots in Roy Hodgson’s 2014 squad and Gareth Southgate’s in 2018. Hodgson also named Cahill in his Euro 2016 side and gave the centre-back the Three Lions’ captains armband in a 0-0 draw with Slovakia in Group B.
Now, Cahill has called time on his career after announcing his retirement this Wednesday at 36 years old. He had been without a club since leaving Bournemouth in June, following prior spells with Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea and Crystal Palace for the Aston Villa product.
Ben Greenwood hails the ‘aura’ the defender brought to the Cherries
Greenwood spent a lot of time with Cahill whilst the centre-back was at Bournemouth last term. The 19-year-old had joined the Cherries in 2019 having not previously been a part of any academy set-up. The Cherries offered the left-back a start in the game at 16 years old.
Cahill left a great impression on Greenwood, who felt the aura at the Cherries change after he joined. Under Jonathan Woodgate, the south coast side lost in the Championship play-off semi-finals in 2020/21. Parker replaced the interim boss after their defeat to Brentford.
“Yeah, I did,” Greenwood told HITC Football. “Gary, great, great guy, what an unbelievable career and an unbelievable professional footballer, as well. You just felt when he came in, the aura that he brought was so experienced, it felt so settling for the club at the time.
“I thought he was a massive part in us getting promoted last year. So, I wish him all the best for whatever he does next because he’s had an unbelievable career.”
For Greenwood, how Cahill handled himself in training at Bournemouth was also top-shelf prior to his retirement. He also felt the defender was of great help to the youngsters at the Cherries. Cahill gave the club’s prospects his time whilst he was playing on the south coast.
“100%, even just being in training with him,” Greenwood continued. “The way he conducts himself, even on the nutrition side of things, his recovery – it was literally A1.
“He wouldn’t put a foot wrong. A true, great professional, a great guy for the youngsters to be around and just learn off.”
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