Former Manchester United Striker Dimitar Berbatov Announces Retirement

Former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov announced his retirement from football on Thursday.

The 38-year-old wrote a lengthy message on Instagram confirming he would be hanging up his boots after a year out of action but vowed to "stay in the game in one way or another."

Berbatov was a classy striker who won two Premier League titles in his four years with Manchester United. He also played for a host of other clubs across Europe, including Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Monaco. 

Here is Berbatov's retirement message in full, per Goal:

"I know some of you already thought that I retired. My last game was more [than] one year ago, so I think it's the right time now to stop. It's long overdue! I will miss it. The games, the goals, the pressure, the roar of the fans when I scored another banger. I was blessed…to have the opportunity to play with one of the best ever and against some of the best ever.

"Thank you to all the people who helped me develop and become the player I always wanted to be. Thank you to all my former teams, my team-mates, my coaches and staff. It was a pleasure. I know at times I was not easy to work with, but I always gave my everything for the teams I played for.

"I will miss all of this, people, because I love football so much…but I am sure you will miss me as well[!] Thank you!"

Berbatov began his career with CSKA Sofia and helped the club win the Bulgarian Cup in 1999. He joined German side Bayer Levekusen in 2001 and shone in the Bundesliga. The striker went on to seal a move to Spurs in 2006 after finishing as the second-highest scorer in the German top flight with 21 goals in 34 appearances.

Leverkusen offered their best wishes after hearing of his retirement:

Berbatov blossomed into one of Europe's top strikers during his time at White Hart Lane. A clinical finisher with a silky touch, it was little surprise to see him snapped up by Manchester United in 2008.

The Bulgarian enjoyed his most successful spell at Old Trafford, winning Premier League titles and claiming the Golden Boot in 2011. His languid style set him apart from other strikers, but there was no doubting he was a natural goalscorer.

The striker was also prolific at international level. He is Bulgaria's record goalscorer with 48 goals in 78 appearances for the national team, and he was named the country's Footballer of the Year seven times.

Berbatov left Manchester United for Fulham in 2012 and then enjoyed spells in Ligue 1 with Monaco and in Greece with PAOK. His final club was Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters, although he spent only one season with the team and left in March 2018.