After failing to overcome a list of long-term injuries, Andy Reid has retired from football.
The Dubliner, who turns 34 today, played 29 times for Ireland since making his debut in 2003. He scored four goals, all coming in Lansdowne Road between 2004 and 2006.
Best remembered for his two spells at Nottingham Forest, along with stints at Tottenham and Sunderland, Reid spent the last five years of his career at Forest. Struggling with injuries last season, he worked as a coach with the first team, under caretaker manager Paul Williams.
Despite playing 29 times for his country, Reid could have easily doubled that figure. Frozen out under Giovanni Trapattoni, Reid returned to the squad in 2013, five years after he made his previous appearance in green.
Speaking to the Nottingham Post, Reid admitted his body could not cope with the rigours of professional football any longer.
"I could get back to around 60 or 70 percent, I could do a full rehab programme, a mini pre-season, and then the last bit: the explosiveness, the sharpness, kicking the ball and the instinctive things that you need to be able to do in football, the things my game was all about – that's when I'd break down."
"I think my fairytale in football is the fact that I've had a long and, in my opinion, good, career. I'm very, very grateful for that. I've had some wonderful experiences, played in some big games, for some big clubs, and I've enjoyed every minute of it."
Reid's announcement comes a day after Shay Given confirmed he was to step away for a second time from international football.
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