Striker Vokes to retire at end of current season

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Former Wales international Sam Vokes will retire from football at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The striker, 36, has confirmed he will hang up his boots following Gillingham's League Two encounter with Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, 2 May - bringing an end to a career spanning two decades.

"It's been 20 years since my debut and after 750 appearances, including 64 caps for Wales, this Saturday's match at Gillingham will be my last," Vokes wrote in a post on social media.

"I feel now is the right time to retire from a career I have absolutely loved."

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Vokes started his professional career with Bournemouth but joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2008.

He scored eight goals across all competitions in his debut campaign at Molineux as Wolves gained promotion to the Premier League.

The forward went on to have loan spells with Leeds United, Bristol City, Sheffield United, Norwich City, Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion before securing a permanent switch to Burnley in 2012.

He was part of two promotion-winning squads at Turf Moor - helping Sean Dyche's side reach the Premier League in 2014 and 2016.

The frontman spent seven years with the Clarets before having two campaigns with Stoke City in the Championship.

Vokes left the Potters to join Wycombe Wanderers in 2021 and then signed for Gillingham in the summer of 2025 - scoring three times in 35 appearances for the fourth tier side this season.

Vokes, a Southampton fan, added: "I remember watching my team, the Saints, down at The Dell, dreaming of one day making just one appearance in professional football.

"Never did I dream I would be fortunate enough to have played across all four divisions and represent some amazing clubs."

'Dream' Wales achievements

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Vokes was one of the key figures in Wales' historic run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

The forward famously scored a late header as Chris Coleman's side sealed a dramatic 3-1 win over Belgium in the quarter-finals of the competition in France.

Vokes - who scored 11 times for his country - added: "To have represented Wales 64 times over 12 years and to have experienced everything that comes with international football was a dream.

"Sharing the Welsh dressing room with all the amazing players, managers, coaches and staff members was a privilege.

"To have had the chance to go on the unbelievable journey with Wales, from some of the tough times we faced to reaching the heights of 2016 and also having the chance to play football all over the world representing Cymru is something I'll never forget."

Vokes is a regular pundit on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast.

Related topics

• Wales Men's Football Team
• Gillingham
• Brighton & Hove Albion
• Wycombe Wanderers
• Burnley
• Sheffield United
• Bournemouth
• Norwich City
• Football
• Stoke City
• Bristol City
• Wolverhampton Wanderers