Former Preston North End defender Greg Cunningham has confirmed his retirement from football at the age of 34.
The left-back enjoyed two spells at Deepdale, making a total of 184 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing 18 assists.
He initially joined Preston in the summer of 2015 from Bristol City, and his consistent Championship form earned him a move to newly promoted Premier League side Cardiff City in 2018. Cunningham returned to North End in January 2021 and remained with the club until the summer of 2024.
Cunningham began his senior career at Manchester City and also featured for Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers. He brought his playing days to a close with hometown club Galway United and won four senior caps for the Republic of Ireland.
Announcing his decision on Instagram, Cunningham reflected on a career that began as a childhood ambition and became his profession after leaving home at just 16.
He spoke about how the journey shaped him as a person, referencing the challenges, sacrifices and setbacks alongside the successes that defined his time in the game.
The Irishman expressed deep gratitude to his parents for their constant support, as well as to his wife and children, crediting them for their love, patience and selflessness throughout his career.
He also paid tribute to the coaches in Galway who helped develop him in his early years, along with teammates, managers, medical staff, supporters and everyone behind the scenes who played a role along the way.
Thanking each club he represented, Cunningham said he steps away from football proud of his efforts, the challenges he embraced and the moments that mattered most, describing himself as fortunate to have lived out his childhood dream.
Cunningham’s announcement prompted warm reactions from former Preston teammates, underlining his popularity at the club. Current captain Ben Whiteman described him as one of the best, while Tom Cannon labelled him a legend.
Sean Maguire, Ryan Ledson, Cameron Archer, Callum Robinson, Liam Millar and Jordan Storey were among those to offer praise and well wishes, alongside messages from Daniel Johnson, Will Keane and Real Madrid defender Álvaro Fernández, all highlighting both his quality as a player and his character off the pitch.
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