Former Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni has retired from football after clocking 35. The former Everton and Portsmouth hitman announced his retirement in a chat with Sky Sports. The player who made 250 appearances in the English Premier League for Everton, Portsmouth, Middlesborough and Blackburn United scored a total of 96 goals.
At the International level, the striker made four appearances at the African Cup of Nations and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"I would like to officially announce my retirement from professional football today. Firstly, I would like to thank God for the career I have had. I would like to thank the entire Nigerian Football Federation and my Nigerian national team-mates for all the memorable years I had playing for the Super Eagles.
I would also like to thank all the football clubs I played for. The managers, all club staff, owners, fellow players and my dearest family and friends who immensely supported me throughout my career. When I started my career at Julius Berger in Nigeria, all those years ago (1997) I could only have dreamt of the success that was to follow years after.
Also playing in England especially helped me grow as a player and as a person so much that I am now settled here. I feel the time is right for me to now focus on the next chapter in my life."
