Yorke announces retirement from football

Dwight Yorke, the former Manchester United forward, has retired from football after being released by his last club, Sunderland, at the end of last season.

Yorke, 37, won the 1999 Champions League and three successive Premiership titles in a four-year spell at United. He also captained Trinidad and Tobago, at the 2006 World Cup, and has agreed to become an assistant manager of his national team as a first step into coaching.

“It’s time to hang up my boots,” he said. “While I’m still in great shape, I’m not getting any younger. I’ve had the time of my life. I hope people will say that I played the game in the right way with a smile on my face.

“I’ve been blessed really. I’ve played alongside some of the greatest players the Premier League has ever seen in Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Peter Schmeichel, and played for the greatest manager in Sir Alex Ferguson.

“I’ll always count myself lucky. I was a boy on a beach from a little Caribbean island that got the chance to fulfil his dream of winning trophies at the highest level and captaining his country in their first ever World Cup finals.”

Yorke played 480 club games and scored 147 goals, including 64 in 151 appearances for United.

On his plans to work with the Trinidad and Tobago national team for the rest of the World Cup qualifiers, he added: “I always planned to stay in football. My aim is to build up some experience and then use what I’ve learnt from my playing days to coach and one day manage a team in England.”