Club Captain hangs up his boots after fantastic playing career

- Mark Hudson has moved into coaching at Huddersfield Town

- HTAFC’s Club Captain retires from football

- Comments from Head Coach David Wagner

Huddersfield Town’s Captain Mark Hudson has decided to call time on his playing career and make the transition into the Club’s coaching setup ahead of the 2017/18 Premier League season.

The 35 year-old centre back, who is studying for his UEFA A coaching license, will become part of Head Coach David Wagner’s technical staff on a full-time basis after deciding to hang up his boots.

Hudson will leave his playing career on a high, having lifted the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final trophy at Wembley Stadium just over a month ago after Town secured promotion to the Premier League through the dramatic penalty shootout win over Reading.

That completed Hudson’s third promotion to the top flight, repeating the Play-Off Final feat he achieved with Crystal Palace in 2004 and second tier title win with Cardiff City in 2013, when he was named the Club’s Player of the Year.

Also a League Cup runner-up, Mark will leave playing behind with 460 games under his belt largely across the top two divisions of English football, which includes 109 games for the Terriers in three Sky Bet Championship campaigns. 21 of those starts, alongside five substitute appearances, came in last season’s successful charge to promotion.

This transition was envisaged when Mark signed a new three-year contract at the Club in April 2016. Hudson’s exact role in the coaching setup will be defined soon and in the interim, he will support the preparations and training for Town’s Premier League debut in 2017/18 alongside Wagner and the technical staff.

Huddersfield Town Head Coach David Wagner explained:

“I’m very happy that Mark is becoming part of my backroom staff.

“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.

“I believe the qualities that Mark has as a person and a footballer should make him an excellent coach. I know retirement can feel like a sad day as a former player, but he has so much still to give this Club and football and that is exciting.

“We will all help Mark as much as we can as he makes the transition into coaching and continues to learn, but I’m sure he will still be a big help and influence on our squad as we prepare for the Premier League.”