Billy Sharp has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.Sharp, who played 43 Premier League games throughout his career, departs the sport as the Championship‘s all time top scorer.Sharp has retired from football after a 22-year career that saw him become a legend in the EFLGettyBanging in 130 second-tier goals, Sharp was a fan favourite for whoever he played for during his 22-year career.His journey started at hometown club Sheffield United in 2004, with Sharp going on to play 814 games for ten different teams – scoring a whopping 299 goals.He enjoyed the most success with the Blades, featuring 377 times for the club, becoming their third-highest goalscorer ever and fourth highest appearance maker of all time.Sharp most recently played for Doncaster Rovers last season in what was his fourth spell with the club, scoring 13 goals.And he has now retired after leaving Doncaster to become a free agent earlier this summer, with his final ever game as a footballer seeing him score a hat-trick against Peterborough United in May.He announced his decision live on Sky Sports at St Mary’s before his old side Southampton hosted Portsmouth on Sunday.Sharp announces retirementSharp revealed: “I’m going to hang the boots up. I’ve given it a good ride. I got a long way, got to 40.“I wanted to do it on my own terms and have a choice. I’ve seen many friends taken away with injury and things like that. “I wanted to go out with a bang and luckily for me I got a hat-trick in my last ever appearance.“People have been saying do I want that 300th goal and do you know what, it would have been lovely to get it on that day.View Tweet: https://t.co/E6WKtbzp3UBilly Sharp's career in numbers Sheffield United – 377 games, 129 goals, 42 assists Doncaster Rovers – 198 games, 71 goals, 20 assists Scunthorpe United – 94 games, 56 goals, 5 assists Nottingham Forest – 40 games, 11 goals, 5 assists Leeds United – 35 games, 5 goals, 1 assist Southampton – 18 games, 10 goals, 3 assists Rushden & Diamonds – 16 games, 9 goals, 1 assist Hull City – 13 games, 0 goals, 0 assists LA Galaxy – 12 games, 6 goals, 1 assist Reading – 10 games, 2 goals, 0 assistsTotal: 814 games, 299 goals, 78 assistsSharp is a Sheffield United legend and played almost 400 games for his boyhood club across his careerGetty“But I’ve had an unbelievable career. I love football, I’m very passionate.“Maybe not the most talented player, the most like on the pitch, but that’s because I love football, I’m passionate and I think I’ve got every single bit out of my career.”‘What a great career’Speaking on The Warm-Up, talkSPORT co-host Max Rushden hailed Sharp for what he achieved in the beautiful game.Rushden said: “Well done to Billy Sharp, what a great career he has had, 299 goals in 814 appearances.“Someone should just let him play until he gets to 300!”Journalist Barry Glendenning then remarked: “Go out with 299 Billy, there’s nothing wrong with that!”Sharp even spent a short time in the United States playing for LA Galaxy before returning to England in 2024GettyHaving the final say, Rushden then stated: “You’re absolutely right, well done Billy. “He’s a good guy and he’s had an absolutely brilliant career.”Sharp played for Sheffield United, Doncaster, Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Hull over his 22-year career in football.He also represented Scunthorpe United, Southampton, Rushden & Diamonds, Reading and LA Galaxy.The forward played 12 games in the MLS from 2023 to 2024, scoring six goals and providing one assist in the USA.