Aleksandar Kolarov announces retirement from football

Former Manchester City full-back, Aleksandar Kolarov has reportedly announced his retirement from professional football.

The 36-year-old has spent two years at Inter Milan, three years at Roma, and seven years at City, helping the latter to their first two Premier League titles.

He also won one FA Cup and two League Cups.

Kolarov plans to retire from playing football to become a sporting director or a scout.

He said, “I always knew that sooner or later this moment will come. Although I am sorry that I am closing one chapter of my life.

“I am grateful that I managed to achieve what has always been my dream. I thank all the people who followed me in this first part of my career.

“First of all, to every teammate in the teams in which I played as well as in the football team of Serbia, my homeland, which I have always represented with great pride.

“I thank the clubs, presidents, managers, coaches and technical staff, doctors, economists, physiotherapists, and all those who helped in my career, and worked hard from the background.

“I am coming to the end of this phase in my life, feeling great satisfaction with what I have achieved.”

He continued, “I hope that with my daily proving on and off the field, I have at least partially repaid this wonderful game and all those who supported me.

“Now I am already focused on my ‘other’ life in the world of football.

“I will soon start training as a sporting director and scout at the National Football Centre of the Football Federation of Italy in Kovercan.”

Kolarov began his playing career in his native Serbia with Cukaricki and then OFK Beograd before moving to Lazio in 2007.

He made 94 appearances for the Serbian national team and was part of their 2010 and 2018 World Cup squads.