Former United, City and Juventus striker Carlos Tévez hangs up the boots

Former Argentina striker Carlos Tévez confirmed late on Friday that he has retired from professional soccer, one year after leaving Buenos Aires club Boca Juniors citing burnout.

The 38-year-old said on national TV show in Argentina that he would no longer play professionally.

Known as ‘El Apache’, Tévez began his career at Boca and had successful stints with Corinthians.

He moved to England in 2006, where he played for Premier League sides West Ham United, Manchester United and Manchester City, before moving to Italy to join Juventus.

Tévez had two more stints with his hometown club Boca Juniors on either side of a spell with Chinese Super League team Shanghai Shenhua.

He made 75 appearances for the Argentine national side and won an Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

‘Lost No. 1 fan’

However, in quotes relayed by Mundo Albiceleste, Tévez said on Friday that even though he had received offers from Major League Soccer in the United States, he had stopped playing because he no longer had his “number one fan” after the passing of his father.

“I have retired, it’s confirmed,” he said. “They offered me many things, including from the United States. But that’s it, I have given everything.

“Playing the last year was very difficult but I was able to see my old man. I stopped playing because I lost my number one fan.”