The one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers cult hero moved from Molineux to Stoke in 2012 which angered some Wolves fans at the time.
A number of Wolverhampton Wanderers fans have taken to Twitter to give their thoughts on Molineux ex-player Michael Kightly announcing his retirement (Southend official website).
The 33-year-old winger had one year left on his Southend contract but the Shrimpers confirmed that he agreed with the League One for his contract to be terminated.
Kightly made 425 career appearances, 75 of those in the Premier League as he turned out in the top flight for Wolves, as well as for Burnley and Stoke City.
Taken on by Wanderers from non-league Grays Athletic in 2006, initially on loan and then permanently, he made 127 appearances in the old gold and claimed 24 goals and 36 assists (Transfermarkt).
However, after helping Wolves back into the Premier League in 2009, Kightly was denied the chance to make a serious mark on the top flight after suffering a series of injuries, missing 16 months of action and being left out of the club’s 25-man squad for the first half of the 2010-11 campaign.
Kightly subsequently departed Molineux in 2012 after their relegation from the Premier League, joining Stoke City in a move which proved controversial amongst some Wolves fans, though several years later he defended his move, saying he left because he “had to leave” (Express & Star).
Wolves paid tribute to Kightly with a video on their Twitter feed and some fans took to the platform to give their thoughts:
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