Sunday 8 October 2017 17:10, UK
Andrea Pirlo says he intends to retire at the end of the season following the conclusion of his contract at New York City in December.
The 2006 World Cup winner, 38, has spent the last three years with City but has featured in just 15 of the club's 32 games this season.
Asked by Italian newspaper Gazetta Dello Sport what his plans are when his New York City contract comes to an end on December 31, Pirlo said: "You just realise that the time has come.
"Every day you have physical problems, you cannot train as you like because you always have some stuff. At my age, that's enough.
"It's not that you can go on forever to 50. I'll do something else."
Pirlo has won six Serie A titles and the Champions League twice in an illustrious career, and has played for Italian powerhouses Inter, AC Milan and Juventus.