Gareth Barry hangs up his boots

Happy retirement, Gareth. I will always remember you as one of best footballers I have seen.

Best of luck.

Compare their impact with the likes of Schneiderlin, Williams, Delph and Sigurdsson, who set the younger players in the squad such a diabolical example of what it means to be a top professional.

Hope he is not forgotten like some (actually like many). Good luck to you Gareth! Thank you for your excellent service!

Gave away 10 years to James McCarthy and was nearly always the better player of the two, says it all really. A terrific signing whose work ethic, desire, intelligence and will to win have never been replaced.

One of those few players who you believed was worth the wage, a few professionals at Everton currently are taking the piss. Happy retirement Gareth, you have earned it and the lifestyle you undoubtedly now have. All the best, it was a pleasure to watch you in blue.

Definitely the glue that held us together for four years. Can't believe he was 32 when he signed for us, I'm sure that if you went back to the thread on here when he signed you would find people moaning about taking on an ageing Man City reject.

Also, that goal against Norwich in 2014 with a run just past hafl-way, the way he made the ball curve.

Absolute class act and professional, someone who we need back at the club to sort these wasters out.

Good Luck to him in the next chapter of his life!

Famously described as having deceptive pace... slower than he looked. But speed over the ground can be covered by speed of thought. His 2 Premier League records (appearances and bookings) show he wasn't scared to do play hard, yet he never had a reputation as a dirty player. It is telling that he is one, like Kevin Kilbane, of whom nobody has a bad word. Given the vitriol that appears on social media sometimes, that in itself is an achievement.

I'd expect a player of his experience and intelligence will appear in management sometime soon.

An absolute credit to the profession.

Gareth was a solid profession who enhanced the team just by being on the pitch, for whoever he was playing for, he certainly improved Everton when he joined and had two very good seasons before his lack of pace started to tell, still never let us down and was missed when he left.

Good luck and good health in your retirement Gareth.

Sadly since he and McCarthy left, our midfield aside from Gana, has been so ineffective, to the point it ceases to exist on the park as a midfield.

An excellent player and potential good manager in the future?

I also recall people saying we could not keep playing him as a thirty six year old. So we signed Schneiderlin who looked twice his age and proved to be less than half the player.

A fine player and a gentleman who will always be welcome at Goodison Park.

Koemans biggest mistake (he made plenty), was to let Barry go when he did. The midfield has been a joke ever since, that's how good Barry was.

If Delph was half the player Barry was but alas he isn't – not even in the same ballpark. Thanks for your service to EFC you will be fondly remembered.

The way he trained, the way he conducted himself and even though he was late in some of his tackles he was never dirty.

Enjoy your retirement Gareth it has been well earned.

He was also streetwise and would "take one for the team" on occasion which is why he accrued a few yellows.

He could pass, tackle and even score the odd goal, but he was also a useful extra defender, often with a deft interception or important headed clearance.

Would jump at the chance of getting him at 29, like the others above!

We are still looking for a defensive midfielder?

Don't know if it's been mentioned on other threads but I see Thomsons been axed from Sky Sports, thank God! Now we can just hope the other 350 RS supporting pundits get theirs...

We are a bit obsessed with age and sell on fees etc for older players. Fact is most sports people are lasting longer in their profession due to sports science and fueling their bodies properly.

Barry never had pace but didn't need it as his speed of thought got him into the correct positions a lot of the time or his midfielder partners did his running for him.

As people have said above likening him to Gough, Martin and Power are great examples of proper professionals. Given the right players around him Gomes could fill a similar role.

I am sure he will have a successful career in other aspects of the game should he wish.

I am sure all Everton fans wish him only the best.

Is that why he holds the record for the most booked player in Premier League History?

Firstly – the player with the most appearances is also likely to get booked a lot.

Secondly – he was very good at tactical fouls (much like Fernandinho) where he would pick up a yellow to avoid the opposition from breaking quickly, thus preventing a goal scoring opportunity.

Yes, I remember that 1st season under Martinez, still my best time as an Everton supporter (post-TV age). And Barry and James McCarthy absolutely bossed the midfield.

The 3rd midfielder was a problem, I think Osman mainly played that role, but his legs were creaking by then and that was our weak link. The front 3 of Barkley, Deulofeu and Lukaku was absolutely fantastic.

Thomson was a disgrace and never should have been on the gig, however, Carragher has got away with murder and how he's survived – so far – is a mystery?

Let the bloodletting continue until they've all been devoured!!!!

Never been replaced by Everton either. Good luck Gareth.

Apart from a few voices in the wilderness, Barry got unrelenting stick on here when he played for us.

I hope Sky Sports might sign him up, delighted Thompson and Nicholas are gone. I don't understand why they kept Merson, who hasn't a clue, but I guess he was on a lot lower salary. At least the panel should be impartial now, as long as Glen Johnson is not part of it. Hopefully Souness and Carragher next.

I was like many who never realised how good he was until he actually played for us. He'll do well whatever he does.

A consummate professional, I wish we had more like him now.

Best of luck in your retirement years Gareth, and thanks.

Whilst I respect the acclaim other posters give him, such acclaim to me illustrates just how reduced we've had to get accustomed to being, overseen by the ponce in the boardroom for the past few decades.

Best transfer deadline day signings ever in September 2013, Barry, McCarthy, Lukaku, talk about players that made a big difference.

Gareth Barry and James McCarthy, Ross Barkley in midfield going away to the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd dominating them football-wise in their own backyard.

I've nothing but admiration for Gareth Barry. If only we possessed a midfielder with half of his footballing nous and savvy these days we'd be in a better place.

Good luck to you man.

Wish Gareth all the very best, and thanks for being a good player in an Everton shirt.

As mentioned above, there has probably never been a better deadline day than 2013: to get Barry, McCarthy and Lukaku was amazing, and I was sitting in the pub watching it all and when they were announced, all the blues went wild - we knew we were going places.

The midfield skill and calmness of the former, aided by the ruthless ball-winning and bravery of his young teammate gave us a fantastic season, especially with Rom up-front, the best striker we've had in the Premier League era. Sadly, it all went tits up with Martinez playing the 'Special One' and spending his summer in Brazil, coming back too late to prepare, and bringing with him that lump of shite Besic.

If only Roberto had been humble enough to appoint Big Joe to steer him and not have that gimp Jones as asst, we may have been in the Champions League, or even Champions, and Barry would have something more tangible to remember us by. A great pro and a player I will always respect for his commitment to Everton.

Absolutely loved this guy. Professional, classy, hard working - everything you want your Club to stand for.

For me, again in my time, right up there with the Cahill, Arteta, Carsley, Coleman, and my dark horse fave Hibbo all-time favorite players.

Retire, relax, enjoy the fruits of your labor Gareth. Tough to say nowadays considering the crazy salaries, but you’ve earned it. You always, always worked your socks off.

Legend for me. Your mileage may vary. But when you consider my Blue time, and what Everton have served up, Gareth is a legend. Yes, I know he’s no Dixie, Southall, Ball, Young, etc. But he’s one of a handful of players that I’ve got, during my time, that I utterly respected.