Former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa has announced his retirement from professional football.

The 34-year-old Spaniard, who made 98 appearances for the Reds between February 2007 and May 2009, revealed on Saturday that he has called time on a hugely-successful career.

Arbeloa told Marca: "It's time to say goodbye. Physically I was OK to keep playing."

The versatile full-back joined Liverpool from Deportivo La Coruna in January 2007 and proved to be a shrewd acquisition by Rafa Benitez. A reliable and assured defensive presence, Arbeloa was a regular for the Reds throughout the 2007-08 and 2008-09 campaigns.

He returned to his first club, Real Madrid, in July 2009, with his second spell at the Santiago Bernabeu yielding two Champions League winner's medals, along with the 2011-12 La Liga title and two Copa del Reys.

On the international stage, Arbeloa was part of the all-conquering Spain set-up that won back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.

He ended his playing career back in the Premier League, spending the 2016-17 season with West Ham United.