The archetypal deep-lying playmaker and dead-ball maestro Andrea Pirlo has confirmed that he is quitting football following the end of New York City's league campaign. "You know when the time has come," the 38-year-old said. "Every day you have physical problems and you can't train as you would like to. At my age, it's fine to say enough is enough." UEFA.com applauds him off the pitch.
Final tally
International: 116 appearances, 13 goals
UEFA club competition: 139 appearances, 11 goals
European domestic competition: 556 appearances, 61 goals
What he says
"Football is played with the head. Your feet are just tools."
"To win you need personality; if you don't have that, your opponents will eat you alive."
"I don't feel pressure ... I spent the afternoon of Sunday 9 July 2006 in Berlin sleeping and playing PlayStation. In the evening I went out and won the World Cup."