JACK WILSHERE

Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere (born 1 January 1992) is an English former professional football who last played for Danish Superliga club AGF. He came up through the Arsenal Youth Academy and impressed from an early age. In February 2008, he made his debut for Arsenal Reserves, aged 16, against Reading, and scored Arsenal's only goal of the match, which ended in a draw. He soon made his first-team debut in 2008, becoming Arsenal's youngest ever league debutant at the age of 16 years, 256 days. 

He announced his retirement from football in July 2022. 

Wilshere has earned a number of accolades including the PFA Young Player of the Year award, selection to the 2010–11 PFA Team of the Year and Arsenal's Player of the Season award, as voted for by fans, for his performances in his first full campaign for Arsenal during the 2010-11. 

Wilshere is an England international, having previously represented his country at Under 16, U17, U18 and Under 21 levels. On 7 August 2010, Wilshere was called up to the England senior team for the first time for their friendly against Hungary He made his England debut in the match played on 11 August 2010, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Steven Gerrard. This made him the 10th-youngest player ever to play for England at the age of 18 years and 222 days. Career Caps 34 Goals 2

Wilshere was born in Stevenage and lived in nearby Hitchin. He captained his school team, The Priory School, to County Cup and District Cup glory from Year 7 through to Year 10, and also added the Under 15s National Schools Cup to his list, in Year 8.  He was a boyhood fan of West Ham Utd, his idol being Paolo Di Canio.

Wenger gave Wilshere a place in Arsenal's first-team squad for the 2008-9 and he was given the number 19 shirt. He made his competitive debut in a Premier League  match against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in September 2008, as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie.

Ten days later, on 23 September, Wilshere scored his first competitive Arsenal goal in a 6–0 victory against Sheffield United in the League Cup. On 25 November 2008, Wilshere came on as a substitute in a UEFA Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev, becoming the fifth sixteen-year-old to ever play in the competition.

Wilshere was arrested in the early hours of the morning on 29 August 2010 in connection with a "fracas". However, it appeared Wilshere played the role of peacemaker, and so did not face charges but received a caution.

On 26 November, 2013 he scored his first career brace in a 2–0 win against Olympique de Marseille, in the UEFA Champions League, the first being the fastest European goal scored by an English player in Europe's top-tier competition, which was timed at 29 seconds. The second after 69 minutes.

(Roy Makaay, then with Bayern Munich, scored the fastest goal in UEFA Champions League history, taking just 10.12 seconds to find the net against Real Madrid in 2007.)

Wilshere's goal against Norwich, scored on October 19th, 2013, was voted BBC Goal of the Season, with his goal accumulating 42% of the votes.

On 24 May 2015, Wilshere struck from outside the area, as Arsenal defeated West Brom 4–1 to clinch a spot in the group stages of UEFA Champions League. The goal would later be voted the BBC Goal of the Season, making Wilshere the first player to win that award in consecutive seasons since the start of the Premier League.

On 30 May, Wilshere came on as a substitute in the 2015 FA Cup Final, a 4–0 win over Aston Villa at Wembley S 2015, tadium. On Arsenal's victory parade after winning the final, he led fans in a chant calling local rivals Tottenham "shit". BOOOO! Having previously been warned by the FA after a similar chant in the previous season's campaign, he was charged with misconduct. HOORAY!!

On 20 February 2022, Wilshere signed for Danish Superliga club AGF on an initial short-term contract until the end of the 2021-22 season. Having been without a club since his departure from Bournemouth, Wilshere had been training with former club Arsenal since October 2021, having also trained with Italian Serie B club Comno 1907 previously.

On 6 July 2022, AGF announced that the club would not renew Wilshere's contract for the 2022–23 season. On 8 July 2022 (today), having been dogged with injuries, Wilshere announced his total retirement from football.

Career total: Apps 288 Goals 18     For Arsenal Apps 197 Goals 14