Djibril Cisse retires from football to put his 'mind, body and soul' into being a DJ

Callum Davis
Updated

Former Liverpool and France striker Djibril Cisse has confirmed his retirement from football after a 17-year playing career.

The striker originally suggested he may consider retiring in October 2015, however Cisse remained hopeful of kick-starting his career after having hip surgery last year.

After trying and failing to earn a contract with his first professional club, Auxerre, the 35-year-old has decided to hang up his boots.

"I have loved being a footballer. Up until now, the ball was my whole life. I would have liked to have continued my career, which was interrupted in spite of me, but I have to admit today that football is finished," Cisse told Yahoo Sport, where he is set to work as a pundit.

"I'm going to give myself body and soul to my career as a DJ, a producer, and as a pundit, as well as develop my line of clothing."

Cisse earned a £15m move to Liverpool in 2004 after impressing with his goalscoring performances at Auxerre in Ligue Un.

The striker went on to spend three successful years at Liverpool, winning the Champions League in a dramatic comeback win over AC Milan in 2005.

He enjoyed brief spells at Sunderland, QPR, Lazio and Panathinaikos before a hip injury saw him become a free agent.