The 36-year-old has called time on his 18-year career.
Former Scotland international Barry Douglas has released an emotional statement confirming his retirement from football, marking the end of an 18-year career.
Douglas, 36, last played for St Johnstone in the Premiership during the 2025/26 season. He has retired after a career of nearly 400 league games for Dundee United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United as a left-back. Capped once by Scotland, he made his international debut on March 27, 2018, coming on as a substitute for Andy Robertson in a 1–0 win against Hungary. He has twice won the EFL Championship, first with Wolves in 2018 and then with Leeds in 2020.
In a statement released on social media, Douglas said: “Where do I even begin? The day every footballer knows is coming. It’s time to side goodbye to the playing side of the beautiful game. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I’d make it as a professional footballer. Never mind win multiple titles in different countries.
Barry Douglas during a St Johnstone press conference at McDiarmid Park last year.placeholder image
Barry Douglas during a St Johnstone press conference at McDiarmid Park last year. | SNS Group
“Now that I’m hanging up the boots, I can look back with immense pride, knowing I give it every I had. A massive thank you to all the clubs who trusted me to wear their badge. Its been an honour and a privilege to fight for the shirt, and I never once took that responsibility to granted.
“Every kid growing up dreams of playing for their country, so to have made that a reality is something I’ll always be proud of. Along the way I’ve met so many amazing people. Teammates, physios, chefs, groundsmen, kit men, cleaners...the list is endless. To everyone whose path I crossed, thank you. I truly appreciate you all, and I always tried to be the best version of myself, both on and off the pitch.”
Described by former Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa as an "impeccable professional" and a player "full of virtues", the Argentinian manager paid tribute to the defender when he landed a season-ending injury at Elland Road in 2019, saying: “Douglas is no longer with the team due to his injury. We say sorry because we are not going to have him with us. We appreciate a lot that he was a very brave player in the previous game. He had a serious injury, but he finished the game playing. That is not something that I will forget about the behaviour of Douglas in the last game.”
Born in Glasgow, he began his career with Queen’s Park as a teenager, playing over 60 senior games before being snapped up by Dundee United. He spent three years at Tannadice before moving to Lech Poznan in the Polish top flight, winning the first silverware of his career at the Enea Stadion with an Ekstraklasa and Polish Cup double in 2015.
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A two-year stint at Konyaspor followed, before he returned to UK shores by signing with Wolves for a season, and then Leeds for three years. He returned to Lech Poznan in 2021 following a short loan spell with Blackburn Rovers, and once again won the Ekstraklasa title the following year, before ending his career with St Johnstone last season.