Tony Hibbert is no longer a one-club-man, having joined French club ES Louzy, which plays in the tenth tier. Talks for the defender to receive his veteran’s license have been going on since May. And now, he has returned to football, although at a much lower level than before.
The Everton legend spent 15 years at Goodison park and made 328 appearances for them. Tony Hibbert is one of the few players to have never scored throughout his Premier League career with Everton. He retired from professional football in 2016, after deciding to not renew his contract any further.
La Nouvelle Republique have reported that Hibbert has been given his veterans license to play for District D2 club ES Louzy.
Louzy’s president Jerome Archambeau is quoted as saying: ‘He was looking for a small club to keep himself fit and was was already taking care of our Under 13s side.
‘He was itching a bit to return and coming back to the basics of football after such a career is good for him.
‘The idea is that he brings us his experience, and that he takes pleasure from what he’s doing.
‘We’re a family club, and I think that’s what he liked, namely the spirit of camaraderie rather than that of competition.’
Hibbert is a very avid angler, and bought a 33-acre carp fishery in Villiers-en-Prayeres. To keep himself fit at 40, he is now moving past taking care of U13s and into organised football.
