Former Chelsea winger Damien Duff has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect.
The 36-year-old, who also had stints with Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Fulham and Melbourne City, has most recently been playing for Shamrock Rovers in his native Republic of Ireland.
Duff was particularly successful during his three years with Chelsea, whom he helped to win two Premier League titles and one League Cup during the mid-2000s.
However, four years short of his 40th birthday, Duff has admitted that he can no longer keep up with the physical demands of being a footballer.
"After much deliberation, I have today decided to bring my professional football career to an end," he told Shamrock's official website.
"My heart wants me to continue playing but my body has finally won the battle and told me to stop. I've lived every young boy's dream and I know I am a very lucky man.
"I would like to thank everyone who has helped me along the journey from schoolboy football in Dublin and moving to England as a teenager right up to today."
Duff was capped on 100 occasions at senior international level, from which he scored eight goals, including one at the 2002 World Cup against Saudi Arabia.
Liam Apicella
