Roma defender Federico Balzaretti has announced that he is to retire from football at the age of 33 after failing to recover from a long-term hip injury.
The former Italy international has made just one competitive appearance for the Serie A club since November 2013 after suffering the injury in a match against Sassuolo.
Balzaretti returned to fitness in April and played the full 90 minutes in Roma's 2-1 defeat to Palermo on the final day of the 2014-15 campaign, but he has been forced to call time on his career and will now take up a role working under Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini.
"I am retiring from football," he told reporters at a press conference. "Unfortunately the injury I've had is forcing me to hang up my boots. It's been a difficult decision to take, but I can't continue playing the way I want to, at 100%.
"Last year, in my last news conference here, I said I wanted to get back on the field and play one more match for Roma. I managed to play 90 more minutes with Roma and I'd like to thank everyone here for making that last dream come true.
"I'm happy to have spent the last few months of the season with this group and am delighted we secured second place."
Balzaretti, who won 16 caps for Italy, played for Torino, Varese, Siena, Juventus, Fiorentina and Palermo before joining Roma in 2012.
Steven Toplis
