Jere Markus
May 11 2002, 09:39 AM
Arsenal right-back Lee Dixon revealed Saturday that he is to retire after 14 years at Highbury.
The 38-year-old will make his last competitive appearance Saturday against Everton as Arsenal celebrate winning the double and he will bow out Monday in Tony Adams' testimonial against Scottish champions Celtic.
Dixon has won four league titles, three FA Cups and a European Cup-Winners' Cup and will make his 619th appearance for Arsenal this weekend. He represented England 22 times.
He decided to retire after a discussion with manager Arsene Wenger.
"I hadn't really made up my mind until Arsene Wenger called me into the office prior to training," Dixon told the Daily Telegraph.
"It was the first time we had spoken about it. At the start of this season I had intimated that this would be my last, but because I was out for the first five-and-a-half months through injury, my original plan was thrown into chaos.
"The fact that I haven't missed selection in the squad since Christmas kept me going. "However, the longer the season went on the more I realised I couldn't continue to play at the highest level for much longer.
"It is too much for my knee and ankle, but I needed someone who I totally respect to tell me it was time to call it a day.
"It needed someone with Arsene's intelligence and know-how to push me over the edge."
George Graham signed Dixon for Arsenal from Stoke for 350,000 pounds in January 1998, and Wenger inherited the right-back along with Adams, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn.
Adams, Dixon retiring.. maybe SEaman soon. The Gooners are evolving. In the summer Luzhny leaves too (hopefully) along Grimandi, that means Arsenal need new defenders.
Dixon was always the reliable work/war horse, just like Keown. Unsung, but always there. Salute!
The 38-year-old will make his last competitive appearance Saturday against Everton as Arsenal celebrate winning the double and he will bow out Monday in Tony Adams' testimonial against Scottish champions Celtic.
Dixon has won four league titles, three FA Cups and a European Cup-Winners' Cup and will make his 619th appearance for Arsenal this weekend. He represented England 22 times.
He decided to retire after a discussion with manager Arsene Wenger.
"I hadn't really made up my mind until Arsene Wenger called me into the office prior to training," Dixon told the Daily Telegraph.
"It was the first time we had spoken about it. At the start of this season I had intimated that this would be my last, but because I was out for the first five-and-a-half months through injury, my original plan was thrown into chaos.
"The fact that I haven't missed selection in the squad since Christmas kept me going. "However, the longer the season went on the more I realised I couldn't continue to play at the highest level for much longer.
"It is too much for my knee and ankle, but I needed someone who I totally respect to tell me it was time to call it a day.
"It needed someone with Arsene's intelligence and know-how to push me over the edge."
George Graham signed Dixon for Arsenal from Stoke for 350,000 pounds in January 1998, and Wenger inherited the right-back along with Adams, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn.
Adams, Dixon retiring.. maybe SEaman soon. The Gooners are evolving. In the summer Luzhny leaves too (hopefully) along Grimandi, that means Arsenal need new defenders.
Dixon was always the reliable work/war horse, just like Keown. Unsung, but always there. Salute!