Former Arsenal and Chelsea Defender William Gallas Announces Retirement From Football

Former Chelsea defender and Arsenal captain William Gallas has announced his retirement from football.

The 37-year-old made the announcement on French television yesterday, saying: "It is not an easy thing to announce. You always tell yourself that you can keep going, but, I think today I cannot go on any longer."

Gallas played for Caen and Marseille before joining Chelsea for £6.2 million in 2001. He then spent five years there before moving to Arsenal as part of the deal that saw Ashley Cole move the other way.

He was made Arsenal's club captain in 2007 and left three years later for a three-year stint at Tottenham before joining Australian club Perth Glory for a final season last year.

He made over 150 appearances for Chelsea and over 100 for Arsenal. At Chelsea he won the Premier League title twice, as well as the League Cup and Community Shield in 2005.

Gallas debuted for his national team in a Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovenia and was in the team that lost the 2006 World Cup final to Italy on penalties. After 84 caps and five goals he retired from international duty last year.