Credit: Tung Manh Phan

Richie Mills

Wed 8 April 2026 11:40, UK

Barry Douglas says he can look back with “immense pride” on his career after the former Leeds United man announced his retirement.

Douglas has been without a club since leaving St Johnstone following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership last season.

Before then, the 36-year-old won the Championship with Leeds and Wolves, in addition to twice winning the Ekstraklasa and the Polish Super Cup with Lech Poznan.

The left-back also lifted the Turkish Cup with Konyaspor and went on to play nearly 500 games in his career, which included spells at Dundee United, Queen’s Park, and more.

Now, ex-Leeds defender Douglas says he is retiring from “the playing side of the beautiful game”, as some of his old Elland Road teammates paid tribute to the Scot.

Leeds promotion heroes honour Barry Douglas

Douglas joined Leeds from Wolves in 2018 and went on to play 45 times for the Yorkshire outfit during Marcelo Bielsa‘s tenure.

The ex-Konyaspor player helped Leeds win the Championship title in 2020, before leaving for Poznan in 2021 after struggling for game time in the Premier League.

Upon announcing his retirement, he wrote on Instagram, “In my wildest dreams, I never thought I’d make it as a professional footballer – never mind win multiple titles in different countries and go on to play almost 500 games.

“Now that I’m finally ‘hanging up the boots’, I can look back with immense pride, knowing I gave it everything I had.”

And in the comments, former Leeds teammates Kalvin Phillips, Mateusz Klich, Gaetano Berardi, Patrick Bamford, and more, sent him their best regards following the news.

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A post shared by Barry Douglas (@barrydouglas1)

Sheffield United loanee Phillips wrote, “It’s been a pleasure, my friend. Some amazing memories! What a guy time to spend some quality time with your beautiful family mate! Love you, basher!”

Klich commented, “Barry D! It was a pleasure, brother! Enjoyed every second with you! Respect for speaking fluent Polish, too.”

Berardi put, “Congratulations on your great career mate! Well done! Top top man. Enjoy your future!” and Bamford added, “Congrats on a brilliant career mate, wishing you all the best in what comes next.”

Marcelo Bielsa’s glowing endorsement of Douglas

When Douglas left Leeds for Blackburn on loan, Bielsa waxed lyrical about the defender.

Even though he wasn’t in the Argentine’s first-team plans, the former Marseille boss clearly thought a lot of the Scotland international. And when he left Leeds for Poznan in 2021, some familiar faces wished him well again.

Bielsa said in October 2020, “I have never kept a player solely to make up the numbers for training. In the case of Douglas, it’s different; it makes me very sad that he has left our team because during the two years he has been with us, he has made a significant contribution.

“He’s an impeccable professional and a very respected member within the team. Douglas deserved to try and fight at Leeds; he gave his all to achieve this.

“He’s a player who has given many, many efforts to give the correct responses, and I regret a little bit that he was not able to triumph with us.”

Many will remember that wand of a left foot, and although injuries plagued his spell in West Yorkshire with little to show for it on a personal level, no one can deny his talent.

You only have to look at the comments and messages when someone retires to prove how respected they were, and Douglas was showered with plenty.