Luis Garcia retires from football

LUIS GARCIA has announced his retirement from football.

Spaniard García hangs his boots up after a 17-year career which included winning the Champions League title with Liverpool in 2005.

The 35-year-old, who scored 30 goals in 121 appearances while at Anfield and won the 2006 FA Cup, also played for Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Panathinaikos and, most recently, the Mexican side Pumas.

He made 20 appearances for Spain, representing them at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and was named in Uefa’s Team of the Year in 2005.

García made the announcement on his official website, saying: “Today I’ve decided to retire as a professional footballer. Thanks for the interest from the teams that spoke with me in recent weeks, but I think the time has come to end this important chapter in my life and move to the next page.

“To each and every one of the people over my 17-year career that have been with me, have helped me and supported me at every stage, I will be forever grateful.”