Why has Everton favourite Tony Hibbert come out of retirement aged 40 and who has he joined?

Former Everton favourite Tony Hibbert has come out of retirement.

The right-back hung up his boots more than five years ago but has opted for a playing return.

Background

Hibbert spent the duration of his entire professional career at Everton.

Coming through the academy ranks, he made a total of 328 appearances for the Toffees and famously never scored - a club record for an outfield player

During his time at Goodison, he helped Everton reach the FA Cup final in 2009 and started the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Wembley.

He retired in 2016, having been given a testimonial - in which he scored against AEK Athens - four years earlier.

Who has he joined?

Hibbert has been living in France for the past three years.

And now he's dusted off his boots to sign for amateur side ES Louzy.

They play in the 10th tier of the pyramid in France.

That's lower than Merseyside-based clubs AFC Liverpool, Lower Breck and Litherland REMCYA and the same as North West Counties League Division One North club South Liverpool.

Louzy sit 10th in the Deux-Sèvres Departmental Two table.

Why has he come out of retirement?

According to La Nouvelle Republique, Hibbert has been in discussions with Louzy since May and started training with the club a month ago.

According to president, Jérôme Archambeau, Hibbert was "itching" to get back playing and was looking for a club to maintain himself.

The defender was already coaching the outfit's under-13s.

Archambeau said: “He was looking for a small club to keep himself fit and 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.”