Ex-Premier League star retires and immediately lands new job replacing former team-mate

Matt Ritchie been named as Bournemouth’s new technical director after retiring from professional football.

The 36-year-old has hung up his boots despite having a year remaining on his contract at Reading.

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Ritchie will now return to Bournemouth a decade after leaving his former club.

The former Scotland international will replace his ex-Cherries team-mate Simon Francis in his new role.

Francis will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of this month.

The pair both won promotion from League One and the Championship with Bournemouth as players.

Having joined the club from Swindon in 2013, Ritchie scored 31 goals and provided 29 assists in 142 appearances across three years at the Vitality Stadium.

The midfielder later moved to Newcastle United in 2016 before returning to boyhood club Portsmouth two years ago.

Following a season in the Championship, Ritchie penned a two-year deal with Reading last summer.

He went on to make 28 League One appearances for the Royals as they finished 12th in the third-tier.

Ritchie announcement

Announcing his retirement, Ritchie told Reading’s media channels: “It has come as a shock, but I am retiring for a good reason, I have a great opportunity to move into a role at Bournemouth which I couldn’t turn down and something I am really grateful for.

“It made my decision for me. I am so grateful to the game, I have had a wonderful time.

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“Football has given me everything and more than I ever wanted; friendships, relationships, taken me to countries I never thought I would go to and memories.

“To everyone who has played my part in my development and career, teammates, coaches, fans, they make the moments so special.

“It has been an amazing journey full of ups and downs but from each of those I have grown individually and collectively, with whichever team I was with.”

Francis future

Francis is set to depart Bournemouth after two years as the club’s technical director, having initially returned to the Cherries in 2021.

The former defender spent the final eight years of his career on the south coast after joining in 2012 from Charlton.

Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have Francis high in their thinking for a senior recruitment role, talkSPORT understands.

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His departure comes after Bournemouth secured European football for the first time in their history.

Andoni Iraola clinched Europa League qualification with a sixth place finish last term, Bournemouth’s highest-ever league position.

The Spaniard will be replaced in the dugout by Marco Rose this summer after departing to take charge of Liverpool.

Rose’s side will enter the Europa League at the league phase alongside Sunderland and Crystal Palace.