Liverpool legend John Arne Riise ends 20-year playing career by announcing retirement

JOHN ARNE RIISE has ended his 20-year playing career aged 35 and said 'I resign!'

Liverpool’s 110-cap Norwegian legend thrilled Premier League fans by smashing in a number of trademark free-kicks with his hammer of a left peg during a seven-year stint at Anfield.

But Riise has announced he is hanging up his boots in a lengthy and emotional blog post.

He said: “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. It does not get more matches or training sessions for me.

“As a top athlete MUST always sure to be physically prepared to arrange for the best performances.

"One must align themselves with a different lifestyle than others, and to succeed as a footballer you have to have a mental strength that can withstand going up to 'examination' every week.

“Every fight is a public examination where one is measured and judged. But beneath all this lies the joy.

“The joy of playing football and success, both as a team and individualist, is the foundation.

“The joy that creates glow to master all trainings and a hard match program throughout the season.How I have had it in my entire career.

“From I stood up and trained before school as a redhead and maybe a little different boy in childhood - through all the exciting professional career abroad and until today.

The left-back had completed an amazing footballing journey by heading back to his homeland to play for his first club Aalesund, where he made he debut aged 16.

After two years for the club he was snapped up by French club Monaco where he went on to lift the Ligue 1 trophy in his second season.

Riise arrived at Liverpool in 2001 and went on to make 339 appearance while scoring 30 times – many of which were memorable rockets.

And there was none more memorable that the free-kick he smashed past Fabian Barthez for the Reds against arch rivals Manchester United at Anfield.

He lifted the FA Cup in his time with Reds as well as a League Cup and the Champions League after THAT night Istanbul.

He left for a three-year stint with Roma in Italy before returning to the Prem to spend another three years with Fulham in England’s capital.

Cypriot team APOEL then enjoyed a year of his services before he had one final job abroad with Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos.

Thirteen appearances last season took his overall tally to 708 games in which he struck 57 goals.

He added: “Lately there has emerged a completely NEW feeling in me, feeling that joy, glow and will no longer strong enough to perform at my best.

“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.

“It is an admission that is both heavy and painful, and very full of emotion, but it is most of all honest.

“And when I first saw myself in the mirror and admitted just that to myself, I have to step out completely.

“Perhaps the joy and the necessary motivation sometime back, what do I know, but now it's not big enough. I'm sorry.

“So what do I do when I'm not going to a football training ahead? What am I doing this summer?

“Currently, I do not know, I have not been able to think that far.

“Maybe you know the old circus horse John Arne Riise tingling again someday, and then I'm not too late to ask.

“But a good deal entirely OTHER exciting thoughts I have as well, so it will probably not be silent here I promise, just wait.”