Former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerard has decided to call it quits from professional football.
Gerard, 36, made the announcement on BT Sport on Thursday.
“Following recent media speculation surrounding my future I can confirm my retirement from playing professional football," he said.
"I have had an incredible career and am thankful for each and every moment of my time at Liverpool, England and LA Galaxy.
“As a teenager I fulfilled my childhood dream by pulling on the famous red shirt of Liverpool, and when I made my debut against Blackburn Rovers in November 1998 I could never have imagined what would then follow over the next 18 years.”
" At international level, I feel privileged to have won 114 England caps and to have had the honour of captaining my country. I will always look back with great pride at every time I pulled on the England shirt.
"I feel very fortunate to have had the career I've had, but none of it would have been possible without the support of so many people.
"Firstly, I would like to thank everyone at Liverpool Football Club. I am proud to have played for and captained Liverpool for so many years and to have achieved what we achieved during my time at the club."
Gerrard who spent 11 years at Liverpool, made 710 appearances for the Reds, scoring 186 goals.
He skippered Liverpool to their incredible comeback victory in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final, where they trailed 3-0 to AC Milan in Istanbul at half-time before pulling back to 3-3 in the second period and winning the match on penalties.
Gerrard also won two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
He made his international debut in 1998 and featured in three World Cups and two European Championships with England.
He last featured for Major League Soccer team LA Galaxy where he spent two seasons.
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