"I am really excited" - When Wayne Gretzky revealed his excitement at watching Premier League football

Wayne Gretzky, the legendary ice hockey player, is known as "The Great One" for his incredible achievements on the ice. But he's also a big fan of soccer, and in a recent interview with NBC Sports, he revealed his excitement at watching Premier League soccer.

Gretzky, who has been a fan of soccer since the days of Pelé, said that he loves watching the World Cup and that it's his favorite time to watch soccer. He also talked about his first soccer match in Europe, when he went to London with his son to watch a game between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

"I'm really excited. This is my first game involving Premier League teams."

Gretzky also revealed that he started watching soccer because of players like Pelé and David Beckham. He said he didn't know much about the game at first, but he enjoyed watching it.

"When David Beckham came to the North American teams, soccer really took off,"

In the interview, Gretzky was asked if he ever compared himself with Beckham. He shared an interesting comparison that he once made when he went to see Beckham at a match in LA. He was startled to see the soccer player's style of passing the ball, and it made him think about whether he had ever passed the ball in hockey when he used to play.

Wayne Gretzky informed his wife Janet Jones of his early retirement plans

Wayne Gretzky's decision to retire from the NHL in 1999 was a major shock to the hockey world. For years, he had been one of the most dominant players in the league, leading his teams to multiple Stanley Cup victories and setting numerous records along the way. However, a dip in his performance during the 1988-89 season caused Gretzky to reevaluate his career and ultimately decide to retire.

When Wayne Gretzky shared his retirement plans with his wife, Janet Jones, she was shocked and couldn't believe that her husband was considering leaving the sport. Like many others, Jones had grown accustomed to seeing Gretzky on the ice and could not imagine him not playing hockey. However, Gretzky was serious about his decision and was not willing to continue playing if he could not perform at his highest level.

Although his retirement was a surprise, it allowed Wayne Gretzky to move on to new opportunities and spend more time with his family. He has since become a successful businessman and has remained involved in the sport of hockey as a coach and mentor to young players.