Former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise retires from football

Liverpool's John Arne Riise celebrates scoring against Barcelona during the first leg of a last 16 Champions League football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Madrid, 21 February 2007
© Getty Images
Former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise announces his retirement from football at the age of 35.

Former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise has announced his retirement from football.

The 35-year-old admitted via his official website that he no longer has the ability to compete at the best level.

Riise made more than 250 appearances for Liverpool during a seven-year spell, in which he won the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

The Norwegian went on to play for Roma, Fulham, APOEL, Delhi Dynamos and Aalesund, where he began his career in 1996.

In a blog post, Riise wrote: "I do not quite know how to begin on this blog post. But it will be about elite sport, motivation and it feels like my life's most important decision. And heaviest. I actually decided to resign my job. Cancelling the contract with Aalesund. And it does not happen after next season, or after this. It is happening now, today, in the middle of the season.

"I like to play football, but the motivation is still not strong enough to run the race at the highest level. This body, and this head, has been through so much over the last 20 years."

Riise is the most-capped player for Norway having run out 110 times for his country.

Steven Gerrard in action for Liverpool Legends against Aussie Legends on January 7, 2016
Read Next:
Gerrard plays for Liverpool in 'legends' match
>

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal00000000
2Bournemouth00000000
3Burnley00000000
4Chelsea00000000
5Crystal Palace00000000
6Everton00000000
7Hull City00000000
8Leicester CityLeicester00000000
9Liverpool00000000
10Manchester CityMan City00000000
11Manchester UnitedMan Utd00000000
12Middlesbrough00000000
13Southampton00000000
14Stoke CityStoke00000000
15Sunderland00000000
16Swansea CitySwansea00000000
17Tottenham HotspurSpurs00000000
18Watford00000000
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom00000000
20West Ham UnitedWest Ham00000000