Former Newcastle defender Steven Taylor has retired from professional football, saying he wants “a normal life” after extended periods of quarantine with A-League side Wellington Phoenix.

Taylor, who captained the New Zealand club, will return to England.

“Family is more important than football,” he said.

“The thought of having to relocate and hub again… I got caught in a lockdown at the end of last season and then again one day after I got out of managed isolation,” explained Taylor.

“It feels like it’s followed me everywhere. I haven’t had any type of a normal life for some time.

“I’m excited for the next chapter and to see my family back home in the UK.”

Taylor spent 13 years at Newcastle, making 268 appearances for the club. He joined Phoenix in 2018 after stints at Ipswich Town and Peterborough United.

The Wellington side have been based in Australia for much of the last two seasons because of travel difficulties during the pandemic and Dome emphasised how difficult the relocation had been.

“Covid has been tough on this club, its players and staff over the past two years and especially for Steven,” he said.

“[He’s had] six stints in quarantine – that’s three months alone in a hotel room – over the past two-odd years. That kind of thing takes a toll on a person.”

Taylor’s decision comes as some of England’s cricketers contemplate pulling out of December’s Ashes because of Australia’s Covid-19 regulations and uncertainty whether their families can travel. England netball were also recently forced to cancel their matches in the country.