Shevchenko retires!

Hangin up his boots!

Former Chelsea and AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko has retired from football to pursue a career in politics.

His club, Dynamo Kiev, released a statement in which the 35-year old Ukrainian striker revealed that he would be retiring from football.

In his statement he said that the news could shock everyone and he continued to say that he's future is no longer in football.

He won his 111th and final international cap for Ukraine during Euro 2012, which was co-hosted by Ukraine, where he came on as a substitute during his country's group stage loss to England.

Shevchenko started his career in 1994 at Dynamo Kiev and went on to become one of the most, if not the most lethal strikers in Europe after his move in 1999 to AC Milan. During his time in Italy with AC Milan he won the 2003 Champions League - scoring the winning spot kick in the penalty shoot out - as well as the Serie A title, Coppa Italia and UEFA Super Cup. He also won domestic silverware in England, with Chelsea winning the FA Cup and League Cup in 2007, and Ukraine.

In 2006 the then 29-year old striker signed for Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, for a huge fee of £30 million, and spent two largely unproductive seasons at Stamford Bridge before returning to the San Siro with AC Milan. Though, he was unable to reproduce the deadly form that made him one of the most lethal and feared strikers in Europe. In 2009 he returned to Ukraine with the club where it all started, signing a two year deal with Dynamo Kiev.

Shevchenko was Ukraine's talisman for over a decade and had a national goal scoring record, scoring 48 goals. In 2006 he captained Ukraine to the World Cup quarter finals, he also won the Ballon d'Or in 2004 as the European player of the year and captained Ukraine in Euro 2012.

In his statement he said he will be going into politics and he is expected to elaborate on his plans in the near future.

Shevchenko's honors:

• Ukrainian Premier League: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
• Ukrainian Cup: 1996, 1998, 1999
• Ukrainian Super Cup: 2011
• CIS Cup: 1996, 1997, 1998
• Serie A: 2003-04
• Coppa Italia: 2003
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
• Uefa Champions League: 2003
• Uefa Super Cup: 2003
• FA Cup: 2007
• League Cup: 2007