Few players have written themselves into EFL folklore quite like Billy Sharp.

Across more than two decades in the professional game, Sharp has become a serial goalscorer, won promotions and cemented himself as a hero to supporters at Clubs across the country.

With the announcement of his retirement from football, we've taken a closer look back at his remarkable journey.

The boyhood dream

Growing up in Sheffield, Sharp supported Sheffield United before eventually living every young fan's dream by pulling on the famous red and white shirt himself.

What began with a Championship debut against Watford grew into a career that would see him make more than 300 appearances for the Blades, score over 100 goals and captain the club he had adored since childhood.

Few players get the opportunity to represent their hometown club. Even fewer become one of its modern-day greats.

The pinnacle came when former manager Chris Wilder handed him the captaincy, a moment Sharp still remembers vividly.

"I remember to the day we walked around Bramall Lane, when he named me captain. I think that made me a better person and a better player because I didn't just have to think about myself but others, too," Sharp explains.

Promotions, goals and unforgettable memories

Sharp's legacy at Bramall Lane was built on much more than goals, though.

Under Wilder, he became one of the driving forces behind a golden period for the club, helping secure promotion from Sky Bet League One in 2017 before playing his part in Championship promotion campaigns in both 2019 and 2023.

Those successes carried extra significance because they were achieved with the club he grew up supporting.

He adds: "We had some unbelievable promotion seasons, and you can't take that away. So, to be able to do that with the armband on and wearing the number 10 that I grew up wanting to wear is special."

From promotion celebrations to goals in front of the Kop, Sharp's story became intertwined with the story of Sheffield United itself.

Prior to his success at Bramall Lane, Sharp enjoyed a spell on the South Coast with Southampton, where he was also part of a team to secure promotion to the top-flight in 2012.

Billy Sharp: Goals, promotions and legacy of an EFL icon

Billy Sharp: Goals, promotions and legacy of an EFL icon