Robin van Persie to retire at the end of the season

Ace Dutch striker Robin van Persie on Thursday said he will retire from football at the end of the season.

"That is probably at the end of this season," he told AD in response to being asked when he plans to retire. "I will be 36 years old and will have been a professional for 18 years. From the age of five, I've only been involved in football."

The former Manchester United and Arsenal star returned to Feyenoord following a two-and-a-half-year spell in Turkey with Fenerbahce.

Van Persie joined Arsenal from Feyenoord in 2004 and spent eight seasons with the Gunners in the English Premier League.

He won the FA Cup with Arsenal before moving to Manchester United in 2012, helping the club win the Premier League title and also finishing the campaign as the leading goal scorer with 26 goals to his name.

For the Netherlands, Van Persie is the highest scorer with 50 goals from 102 games.

He was part of the 2010 World Cup final team that lost to Spain.

--IANS

dm/gau/bg