Former England Player, Just One Appearance, Returns to Play for Liverpool in Legends Match a Day After Retirement

A player known for a brief international career made a surprising comeback to football just 24 hours after announcing his retirement. The 35-year-old, who earned only one cap for England, appeared for Liverpool in a legends match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which Liverpool won 1-0.

The game featured many notable football stars, including John Terry, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Joe Cole, Pepe Reina, and Ryan Babel—who scored the winning goal. Also on the field was Martin Kelly, a former defender who announced his retirement just days earlier.

Kelly, who played 62 matches for Liverpool between 2008 and 2014 and also represented Crystal Palace, West Brom, and Wigan during his career, was called to play in the match because he was already retired. The rare appearance sparked attention as he stepped back onto the pitch for the first time since calling it a career.

Kelly’s brief England career holds the record for the shortest in history, lasting only six minutes and 53 seconds, a record he is reportedly comfortable with. His lone international appearance came in 2012, when he came off the bench against Norway, but due to illness, he only played part of the game and was unable to play again at that level.

Having not played professionally since February 2023 and having left West Brom in May, Kelly recently confirmed his retirement. He shared that the decision was made after a long summer with his family, valuing time spent with his daughters and enjoying a more relaxed lifestyle away from the pressures of professional football.

Despite stepping away from the game, Kelly still plays football recreationally with a team of former Premier League stars, including Joleon Lescott and Danny Drinkwater, highlighting that his passion for football remains alive.