Birmingham City midfielder confirms key decision on his future

Gardner joined Blues initially from rivals Aston Villa in the winter window of 2010, and within 18 months he’d helped them lift the Carling Cup but also suffer relegation to the Championship

Craig Gardner has confirmed his retirement after his contract with Birmingham City expired, the club have confirmed.

The midfielder, who had two separate spells at Blues, outlined his intentions to hang up his boots and focus solely on his coaching career earlier this season, when he took on a dual role that involved him assisting Pep Clotet on the training pitch.

Gardner, 33, played his last professional match way back in August, when he led a particularly young Blues side to Fratton Park where they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Portsmouth in the EFL Cup.

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Now, he’ll take on his duties as first team coach on a permanent basis, with his full focus on coaching.

Gardner joined Blues initially from rivals Aston Villa in the winter window of 2010, and within 18 months he’d helped them lift the Carling Cup but also suffer relegation to the Championship.

Gardner would remain in the Premier League, having enjoyed spells with Sunderland and then back in the West Midlands with West Bromwich Albion for whom he made 85 appearances.

He returned to St Andrew’s in January 2017 under Gianfranco Zola, and helped the club survive relegation to League under Harry Redknapp.

Spanning his two spells, Gardner ran out 125 times in royal blue and found the net 16 times.

Craig will now oversee the training of his younger brother Gary, who is six years his junior.