Wednesday 1 October 2014 12:13, UK
Martin Gleeson will take up a coaching role at Salford after announcing his retirement as a player.
The former Great Britain and England international made over 300 Super League appearances in a career that has seen play for five different teams in the top flight.
Having started his career with Huddersfield, the Wigan-born centre won the Grand Final with his hometown team in 2010 after already previously tasting victory at Old Trafford eight years earlier, when he was with St Helens.
Martin’s experience at the highest level of the game is second to none and this will be a fantastic way for our youngsters to start their professional rugby league careers coached by one of the leading players of the game in recent years.
His time at Saints also saw him lift the Challenge Cup in 2004 before he was sold to Warrington for a six-figure fee.
The 34-year-old also appeared for Hull FC but his time at the KC Stadium was cut short when he was banned for the 2012 season after failing a drugs test.
He returned the following year at Salford, where he has spent the past two seasons, and while he has decided the time is right to hang up his boots, Gleeson will remain with the Red Devils, who are owned by Marwan Koukash, to work with their academy players.
“I’m looking forward to my new career starting with developing the youth of Salford and taking my first steps as a coach," he told the club's website.
“We’ve got some great youngsters at the club and I’m really looking forward to working with them.”
Gleeson - who emigrated to Australia at the age of 10 with his family before moving back to England seven years later - made his debut for Great Britain in 2002, the same year he was also named to Super League's Dream Team for the first time.
He went on to win 20 caps, scoring three tries, before crossing eight times in six games for England. His final international outing was at the 2008 World Cup.
“Martin will be another key building block in Marwan’s new investment into our academy structures alongside our existing strong team led by Head of Youth Alan Hunte and Ian Watson," Salford CEO Martin Vickers said in the statement.
"Martin’s experience at the highest level of the game is second to none and this will be a fantastic way for our youngsters to start their professional rugby league careers coached by one of the leading players of the game in recent years.”
