Deco calls time on decorated career

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Deco, the former Barcelona, Porto and Chelsea midfielder, has blamed injury on his decision to retire from football at the age of 35.

The Brazilian-born former Portuguese international hung up his boots on Monday with a clutch of titles to his name, including the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and again two years later with Barcelona.

"With a lot of sadness and hurt I am announcing the end of my professional career," said Deco, who has had a frustrating final season with a series of health problems for his Brazilian club Fluminense.

Deco, who had a two-year spell with Chelsea from 2008, returned to his homeland in 2010 where he picked up two national league titles with Fluminense.

"I've been really happy during this time, I wanted to help Fluminense more but my body won't allow that, my muscles can no longer put up (with the demands of professional football)."

As well as his two European crowns Deco also picked up a UEFA Cup in 2003, three Portuguese league titles, two Spanish titles with Barca and the 2009/2010 Premier league title and two FA Cups with Chelsea.

On the international stage, he helped his adopted country reach the final of Euro 2004 on home soil.

Tearful Abidal ends Barcelona playing career

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A tearful Eric Abidal called an end to his six-year Barcelona playing career on Thursday, less than two months after returning to action from a liver transplant.

"I am going, but I am sure I will be back" in another capacity, the French defender told a news conference at the club, which said it had offered him a role running the club's training schools.

"I would have liked to continue playing for Barca, but the clubs sees things differently and I have to respect that," he said, with tears in his eyes.

Abidal, 33, who made a remarkable recovery from last year's liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. He had said he hoped to continue playing for another couple of years.

"I had two aims -- firstly to fight for the sake of my daughters and see them grow up, and secondly to start playing again," he said of his recovery.

Tearful Abidal ends Barcelona playing career

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

A tearful Eric Abidal called an end to his six-year Barcelona playing career on Thursday, less than two months after returning to action from a liver transplant.

"I am going, but I am sure I will be back" in another capacity, the French defender told a news conference at the club, which said it had offered him a role running the club's training schools.

"I would have liked to continue playing for Barca, but the clubs sees things differently and I have to respect that," he said, with tears in his eyes.

Abidal, 33, who made a remarkable recovery from last year's liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. He had said he hoped to continue playing for another couple of years.

"I had two aims -- firstly to fight for the sake of my daughters and see them grow up, and secondly to start playing again," he said of his recovery.

Tearful Abidal ends Barcelona playing career

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

A tearful Eric Abidal called an end to his six-year Barcelona playing career on Thursday, less than two months after returning to action from a liver transplant.

"I am going, but I am sure I will be back" in another capacity, the French defender told a news conference at the club, which said it had offered him a role running the club's training schools.

"I would have liked to continue playing for Barca, but the clubs sees things differently and I have to respect that," he said, with tears in his eyes.

Abidal, 33, who made a remarkable recovery from last year's liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. He had said he hoped to continue playing for another couple of years.

"I had two aims -- firstly to fight for the sake of my daughters and see them grow up, and secondly to start playing again," he said of his recovery.

Tearful Abidal ends Barcelona playing career

A tearful Eric Abidal called an end to his six-year Barcelona playing career on Thursday, less than two months after returning to action from a liver transplant.

"I am going, but I am sure I will be back" in another capacity, the French defender told a news conference at the club, which said it had offered him a role running the club's training schools.

"I would have liked to continue playing for Barca, but the clubs sees things differently and I have to respect that," he said, with tears in his eyes.

Abidal, 33, who made a remarkable recovery from last year's liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. He had said he hoped to continue playing for another couple of years.

"I had two aims -- firstly to fight for the sake of my daughters and see them grow up, and secondly to start playing again," he said of his recovery.