Louis Saha announces his retirement

Louis Saha, who played for six clubs in the Barclays Premier League, has announced his retirement on his 35th birthday.

"Want to thank all managers, all staff, all team mates, all opponents, all fans, for all support and love towards me during my football career," Saha said on Twitter. "I'm a proud man but without you all I won't be myself now. Thanks for the challenges, thanks for the help, thanks for the memories, thanks for the passion.

"I will stop to be call[ed] a professional footballer. Love you and thanks again."

Having joined Newcastle United on loan from Metz in January 1999, Saha moved to England permanently by signing for Fulham and his goals helped the side to promotion to the Barclays Premier League.

He stayed a further two-and-a-half  seasons at Craven Cottage, scoring 26 goals in 74 League matches before Sir Alex Ferguson bought the Frenchman to bolster his strikeforce at Manchester United in January 2004.

In total Saha played in 289 Barclays Premier League matches, scoring 85 goals and is the third-highest scoring Frenchman in Premier League history after Thierry Henry (175 goals) and Nicolas Anelka (123).