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Former England defender Micah Richards has announced his retirement from professional football.
The 31-year-old was crippled by a persistent knee injury and played for Aston Villa for the last time in October 2016.
Villa has released this summer and he is about to combine his expert work with a promotional role in Manchester City, the club where he has made himself known.
Richards played 295 games with City, Fiorentina and Villa and won 13 caps in England between 2006 and 2012.
He made his international debut at the age of 18 and remains England's youngest defender, scoring a goal for his country – against Israel in September 2007.
Aft or center back, he won the FA Cup and Premier League 2011-12 with City, which he had joined at Oldham at the age of 14.
Richards told BBC Sport: "From my childhood, I dreamed of winning the Premier League and playing for England and I am very proud to have achieved both.
"My time at Aston Villa was very frustrating because I wanted to play but my knee was going to swell and I could not even train it.But it was always an honor to play for them and I'm sorry for not to be able to do more for them in the field.
"It's great to ask to come back and participate in City, because they have a special place in my heart and everyone there took me under their wing as soon as I joined."
Richards quickly became the favorite of City fans after his debut at the age of 17 in 2005.
"I burst onto the scene and played really well the first time, but two seasons later, I did not really win," he said.
"The supporters have always remained true to me, however, I still appreciate the confidence they had for not giving up, and I think that they could see that I'm I always gave 100% when I was on the field. "
After playing 245 games with the Blues, Richards was loaned a season at Fiorentina in 2014-2015, and then went on a free transfer in 2015 to sign a four-year contract with Villa, which ended in June.
A spokesman for the city said: "Everyone in the club still thinks a lot about Micah.Fans love him very much and we look forward to working with him at future events, at home. and abroad. "
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