Huddersfield Town skipper Mark Hudson retires just ahead of new season

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Bengaluru, August 9: Newly promoted Huddersfield Town captain Mark Hudson will spend the club's Premier League debut season on the sidelines after he surprisingly retired on the eve of the new season after agreeing to join his club's coaching staff.

The 35-year-old centre back joined the Terriers in 2014 and went ahead to show up more than 100 appearances for the club and even drove them to promotion last season.

However will now turn out to be a part of coaching team in David Wagner's specialized staff. Although his exact role in David Wagner's coaching set-up is yet to be characterized.

Hudson started his change to the coaching role in April 2016, when he signed a three-year contract with the Yorkshire side. This enabled him to make the move between the agreement and right now he is considering to do his UEFA A training license.

"I'm very happy that Mark is becoming part of my back-room staff," Town coach Wagner said following Hudson's announcement.

"From my first day in England, Mark has been one of the biggest positives. He is a huge influence in our dressing room - a total professional with a winning mentality - and that was why securing his future to Huddersfield Town was so important last April."

"As a player and a potential coach, it was vital that we keep Mark here."

"Make no mistake, Mark made a huge contribution to the success this club enjoyed in 2016-17, both through his performances on the field and his influence off it."

Speaking to HTTV, Hudson revealed why he has chosen to hang up his boots.

"It's not an easy decision, I don't think having played football for so long that it comes about easily but I think that the decision is the right time for me".

However, Hudson felt now was the best time to call it a day.

"Body wise, where we have come to and obviously with the boss, it all came together perfectly. I'm looking forward to transitioning into coaching."

Hudson ends his profession with 460 games to his name, mainly across the top two divisions of English football. His notable achievement in the meantime is three promotions to the top flight with Crystal Palace in 2004, Cardiff City in 2013 and Huddersfield Town in 2017.

Huddersfield will open their 2017-18 league campaign when they face Crystal Palace this weekend.