+ A
A -
DPA
Barcelona
Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed his retirement from playing football on Saturday, aged 34.
The defender was part of the Spain squad that won the European Championship in 2008, the World Cup in 2010, and the European Championship again in 2012.
He only played in one game in 2008, the last group match against Greece, and also played a limited part in the 2010 success. But in 2012 he played every match as Spain became the first team to win three straight major international tournaments.
He started his club career at Real Madrid, where he was part of one of their best generations of young players;~a group that included Juan Mata, Roberto Soldado and Alvaro Negredo, who all also went on to play for their country.
He made his debut for Real in 2004 but with chances to break through permanently~into the first team limited he signed for Deportivo La Coruna and it was from there that Rafa Benitez's Liverpool signed him in January 2007.
He played a key part in Liverpool reaching the 2007 Champions League final against Milan, famously shackling Leo Messi as Liverpool beat Barcelona at the last-16 stage.
He was also a late substitute in the final in Athens which Milan won 2-1.
In 2009 he returned to Real Madrid and when Jose Mourinho took over as coach in 2010 he became an important part of the team winning a Copa del Rey final in 2011 and the Spanish League in 2012.
When Mourinho left in 2013~he had to get used to a more peripheral role but as a squad member he can still count the 2014 Copa del Rey and the 2014 and 2016 Champions Leagues among his honours.
In 2016 he moved to West Ham but played only four games in a season plagued by injuries.
In an interview with Marca on Saturday he said:"The moment to say goodbye has arrived. I have decided to hang up my boots and leave football."
Asked about his future plans and the possibility that he could return to Real Madrid in some capacity, he added:"Madrid know that I am always going to be there when they need me because I consider it my home. But I would never call them to ask, only to offer my services.
"I am qualified as a sporting director and I will get my coaching badges too but I don't know if I will end up coaching."
