Ghanaian football icon, Asamoah Gyan, has announced his retirement from football after years of playing.

“It is time to hang the jersey and boots in glory as I retire officially from active football.’’ Gyan said in a statement on his Twitter page.

Gyan played for the senior national team, the Black Stars, in three Fifa World Cups – in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

He is Africa’s top World Cup scorer, with six goals in total.

He helped the Black Star to two Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2010 and 2015 where they lost to Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire respectively.

“Officially, as I end my speech, Mr. President, Ministers of State, members of the board, fellow Speakers, nananom, nim3, naam3, I want to take this great opportunity, a stage that is difficult in every footballer’s career, a moment all footballers do not wish, but when nature dawns, that thin voice will keep echoing into the ears,” the statement reads.

“IT IS TIME… that voice has been clear in my ears, and I have succumbed to it, IT IS TIME. IT IS TIME TO HANG THE JERSEY AND BOOTS IN GLORY as I retire officially from active football, …but then again, I am minded by views shared by great businesses men and sporting gurus, “YOU DO NOT LEAVE YOUR LOVE’… together with my management, we will continue encouraging and push young talents as we did recently with BABYJET U16 AFRICAN TOURNAMENT where 1,200 young players across West Africa exhibited their talents on live TV.

“Again, I will put my experience and knowledge to use in the field of coaching, football business and scouting. I want to thank my beloved country GHANA, my family, my colleagues from school, those from Colts and Blackstar from 2002 to date, club mates, coaches and everybody who has played a role in my career as a footballer. I say Thank you…. May God bless us all.”

The 37-year-old began his club career in 2003 with Ghana’s top team, Liberty Professionals, and later played in Europe for Udinese in the Italian Serie A, Rennes in the French Ligue 1 and Sunderland in the English Premier League.

He later played for Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, helping the team win the UAE Pro-League.

Gyan equally had a stint with Shanghai SIPG, Kayserispor, and North East United in India.