Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund ace Tomas Rosicky retires from football at the age of 37 after 19-year career
FORMER Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund star Tomas Rosicky has retired at the age of 37.
The winger played 247 games for the North London club after moving from Dortmund in 2006 and played last season at his first club, Sparta Prague.
Tomas Rosicky has decided to hang up his boots after a 19-year football careerPA:Empics Sport
Rosicky spoke of his series of injuries at a press conference in his home country, after making only handful of appearances for the Czech capital club.
He said: “I knew it was coming. It was harder and harder to prepare for matches, my mind still wanted to play but my body refused.
“Recently my mind also stopped working this way. I had a great football career, I loved football and I would definitely go through it again.”
Rosicky scored 23 goals in 105 games for the Czech national team and captained the side at Euro 2012.
Tomas Rosciky announced his retirement in a press conference todayAP:Associated PressTomas Rosicky in action for Sparta Prague during his first stint with the clubPA:Empics SportTomas Rosicky celebrates with the FA Cup in 2014 after Arsenal won their first trophy in nine yearsNews Group Newspapers LtdTomas Rosicky celebrates scoring at White Hart Lane in the North London derbyTimes Newspapers LtdTomas Rosicky scores against Arsenal in the Champions League in 2002AP:Associated PressTomas Rosicky in action for the Czech Republic against WalesEPA
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But perhaps injury got the better of him in the end, with the smooth playmaker having several spells on the sidelines throughout his career due to injuries.
Rosicky added: “I would like to thank Sparta for raising me, for being the first step in my career in big clubs, and for allowing me to say goodbye at the place I love the most.”
Gunners fans will have caught their first glimpse of the stylish Czech star when he scored against them in a Champions League group stage game in 2002.
He won the Bundesliga title with Dortmund that year and stayed in Germany until the 2006 World Cup, after which the Gunners bagged him for an undisclosed fee.
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