The 35-year-old says his body will not let him continue
his career, having represented the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Porto over
the last 17 years
Former Barcelona and Chelsea star Deco has announced his
retirement from football on the eve of his 36th birthday.
The ex-Portugal international began his career with
Salgueiros in his native Brazil before winning a move to Porto in 1999,
becoming a naturalised citizen of his adopted country in the process.
Following the club's Champions League triumph in 2004, he
left the Primeira Liga for Barcelona, spending four years at Camp Nou before
moving to Stamford Bridge for two seasons.
He left European football for good in 2010, returning to
Brazil with Fluminense, and has decided to call it a day after three years in
South America.
"With great sadness and regret I announce the end of
my career as a professional athlete," he is quoted as saying by AS.
"The last minutes with Fluminense on Wednesday were
my last of my 17 years as a footballer.
"I would have loved to continue until the end of the
Brasileiro and help the team get back in the Libertadores but my body wouldn't
let me.
"I'm very grateful for all the trust and
affection."
The attacking midfielder won 75 caps for Portugal over
the course of a seven-year international career, representing them in two
European Championships and two World Cups.
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