Andriy Shevchenko To Retire From Professional Football After Euro 2012

Ukraine Star Andriy Shevchenko To Retire From Professional Football After Euro 2012

Oct 8, 2010 3:55:00 PM

Shevchenko will hang up his boots after Euro 2012...

Dynamo Kiev star Andriy Shevchenko has revealed that he will retire from professional football after the European Championships in 2012. The tournament will be held in Ukraine and Poland and Shevchenko is eager to shine in front of his home fans before hanging up his boots.

"When we were beaten by Greece in the play-off for a spot at the 2010 World Cup, I realised that I will never play at a World Cup again. I want to play in Euro 2012 and will then hang up my boots. I've given it a lot of thought and my decision is final," Shevchenko was quoted as saying by Sport Express.

The 34-year-old started his professional career with Dynamo Kiev and made well over 100 official appearances for the Ukrainian side before joining Milan in the summer of 1999.

He quickly developed into an absolute fans' favourite at the Rossoneri and was named European Player of the Year in 2004 after a superb year at Milan.

He then left the Serie A outfit for Chelsea in 2006, but his spell with the Blues was far from successful, as was a temporary return to Milan in 2008. He returned to Dynamo Kiev in 2009.

Shevchenko has made 99 international appearances for Ukraine so far and is expected to collect his 100th cap when the Ukrainians take on Canada on Friday.

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