Former England star and Premier League legend makes surprise decision to come out of retirement four years after hanging up his boots

A former England international has made the surprising decision to come out of retirement.

The star, now aged 43, retired from playing in August 2020.

During a lengthy playing career he featured in the Premier League for four different clubs.

He also won the Premier League title on one occasion.

In addition, the player was capped by England on more than 50 occasions. 

Gareth Barry has come out of retirement to play for village amateur side Hurstpierpoint, who play in the Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid Sussex Football League.

Hurstpierpoint commented that Barry's quality in training has been 'unreal', and revealed that he has a longstanding association with the village through his friend and the club's coach Michael Standing.

Barry and Standing signed for Aston Villa from Brighton on the same day in 1997, with Standing later becoming his agent.

During an impressive career, Barry won the Premier League title with Manchester City in the 2011-12 campaign and went on to feature for Everton and West Bromwich Albion.

Barry holds the record for the most Premier League appearances with 653, although Brighton's James Milner, who has played 634 games in the top flight, could soon overtake him.

On the international stage Barry played for England between 2000 and 2012.