Former Ghanaian football star Asamoah Gyan has officially announced his retirement from football.
“It is time to hang the jersey and boots in glory as I retire officially from active football.’’ Gyan said in a statement on his Twitter page.
The striker is Ghana’s all-time leading scorer with 51 goals in 109 appearances for his nation.
The 37-year-old began his club career in 2003 with Ghana’s top team, Liberty Professionals, and went on to play in Europe with Udinese of the Italian Serie A, Rennes of the French Ligue 1, and Sunderland of the English Premier League, where he shattered the team’s transfer record.
He spent time in the UAE, where he played for Al Ain, helped the team win the league championship, and led the league in goals scored with 28 in 32 games. He additionally played for North East United, Kayserispor, and Shanghai SIPG.
In three Fifa World Cups; 2006, 2010, and 2014, Gyan made a significant impact for the senior national side, the Black Stars, in Ghana. With six goals overall, he is the leading World Cup scorer for Africa.
He represented his nation in seven Africa Cup of Nations competitions, when the Black Stars placed third in 2008 and second in 2010 and 2015.
Gyan played for Ghana’s Legon Cities FC during his final football season. LeGYANdry, a book describing his life and football career, was also published by him.