13.06.14

David Bentley

unattached

Eng

27.08.1984

Wg

Former England star David Bentley last night announced his retirement at the age of just 29, claiming: Tottenham killed my love for the game.

22.05.14

Craig Bellamy

Cardiff City (Wal)

Wal

13.07.1979

St

Cardiff City forward Craig Bellamy has announced his retirement as a player, saying that his body "couldn't take it any more".

19.05.14

Ryan Giggs

Manchester United (Eng)

Wal

29.11.1973

Wg+Mf

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has retired from playing after being named assistant to new coach Louis van Gaal. Giggs, 40, made a club record 963 appearances for United and played 64 times for Wales.

18.05.14

Javier Zanetti

Inter Milan (Eng)

Ita

29.11.1973

Df

Internazionale's 40-year-old defender retired following the 4-1 win against Lazio. He had been with the club for the last 19 years and amassed a total of 857 appearances, including 614 in Serie A.

14.05.14

Ji-Sung Park

Queens Park Rangers (Eng)

Sko

25.02.1981

Mf

Ji-Sung Park has hung up his boots after rejecting a late World Cup call from South Korea, he has been plagued by long-term knee problems.

06.05.14

Wayne Bridge

Reading (Eng)

Eng

05.08.1980

Fb

Former England defender Wayne Bridge has retired from football after being released by Reading, he made only 12 appearances for Reading this season because of knee problems.

28.04.14

Alessandro Del Piero

Sydney FC (Aus)

Ita

09.11.1974

Mf

Alesssandro Del Piero has quit playing at the age of 39.

14.01.14

Luis Garcia

Pumas UNAM (Mex)

Esp

24.06.1978

Mf

He said yesterday announced his retirement from football. The former Liverpool (Eng) forward hangs up his boots after a 17-year career, which includes winning the Champions League with the Reds in 2005.

23.12.13

Mohamed Aboutrika

Al Ahly (Egy)

Egy

07.11.1978

Mf

The 35-year-old Egyptian midfielder announced his intention to retire after the quarter-final of the Club World Cup in Morocco and Ahly failed to persuade him to play one more season.

17.12.13

Rory Delap

Burton Albion (Eng)

Eng

06.07.1976

Mf

Has announced his retirement from football after a series of hamstring injuries. The former Southampton, Derby and Stoke midfielder, 37, had been at Burton this season.

03.12.13

David Healy

unattached

Nir

05.08.1979

St

Unable to find a club after his release from Bury (Eng) and struggling with persistent ankle injuries, Healy announced his retirement from football on 3 Dec 2013.

06.11.13

Juan Obelar

Fenix (Uru)

Uru

12.08.1979

Gk

Obelar retired after a domestic accident in which he lost four fingers of his left hand through a wood plane. At the time he was on his own, and didn't have help from anyone.

21.10.13

Alessandro Nesta

Montreal Impact (Can)

Ita

11.03.1980

Dc

Nesta has announced his retirement, he will hang up his boots at the end of the MLS season in Dec 2013.

04.09.13

Thomas Hitzisperger

unattached

Ger

19.03.1976

Mf

Former Germany and Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has retired at the age of 31 after a series of injury problems.

04.09.13

Paul Scharner

unattached

Aut

05.04.1982

Df

Austrian defender Paul Scharner, who won the FA Cup with Wigan in May, has retired from football at the age of 33.

26.08.13

Deco

Fluminense (Bra)

Por

08.08.1978

Mf

Fluminense's Brazil-born Portugal midfielder Deco announced his retirement at the age of 36, he had a hamstring injury.

08.08.13

Louis Saha

Lazio (Ita)

Fra

08.08.1978

St

On 8 August 2013, date of his birthday, Saha announced his retirement from professional football via Twitter.

31.07.13

Kieron Dyer

unattached

Eng

29.12.1978

Mf

Kieron Dyer has retired from playing football at the age of 34 after an injury-hit career and now plans to go into coaching.

01.07.13

Dejan Stankovic

Inter Milan (Ita)

Srb

11.09.1978

Mf

Inter Milan midfielder Dejan Stankovic has confirmed his retirement from football just shy of his 35th birthday. The former Serbia captain, who joined Inter in 2004, has won four Serie A titles, four Coppa Italias, and the Champions League during his time at the club.