Tim Krul retires from football at 37 after two-decade Premier League career

Tim Krul has announced his retirement from professional football at 37, bringing to a close a 20-year career that included 222 Premier League appearances for Newcastle United and Norwich City. The Netherlands international kept 51 clean sheets and conceded 371 goals in England’s top flight, and he earned 15 caps for his country. He is remembered for stepping in during the 2014 World Cup shootout against Costa Rica, where he saved two penalties as a substitute for Jasper Cillessen to help the Dutch advance.

Krul has been without a club since leaving Luton Town at the end of last season. In an Instagram post highlighting a two-decade journey, he thanked clubs, coaches, teammates, family and fans, and reflected on joining Newcastle as a 17-year-old and chasing the dream that carried him to the international stage. “From joining Newcastle as a 17 year old boy, to representing Holland on the international stage. I have truly lived the dream I had as a young boy every match, every training session, and every rollercoaster moment has shaped me into who I am today. I’m grateful for the memories, the support of fans, and the opportunities I’ve had,” Krul wrote, adding that he looked forward to new adventures off the pitch.

In Premier League lore, Krul shares the record for the most saves in a single game with Manchester United’s David de Gea, a feat achieved in a 2013 clash with Tottenham that De Gea later matched in 2017. The Dutch stopper’s path to prominence was most visible during Newcastle United’s mid-2010s peak, where he established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper before later spells with Norwich City and, eventually, a separation from top-flight football.

Krul’s international career elevated him beyond club duty, with his World Cup heroics in Brazil seorang high point for the Netherlands. His retirement marks the end of a two-decade journey that began in the youth ranks at Newcastle and culminated in a veteran’s exit from professional football, leaving behind a record of longevity, resilience and moments of remarkable shot-stopping that fans will remember for years to come.