Former England goalkeeper David Seaman announced his retirement from soccer on Tuesday.
Seaman, 40, has suffered from a recurring shoulder problem while playing with Premier League side Manchester City this season. His last appearance was in City's 4-2 defeat at Portsmouth last Saturday, where he lasted only 13 minutes before being substituted.
"I have reached this difficult decision after much discussion with my family and those in the game whose views I respect," Seaman said.
PHOTO: AP
"It has become clear to me that this type of injury will not quickly disappear -- and I think now would be a good time to hang up my boots, rather than at the end of the season as planned."
Seaman, who played 75 international matches, will be replaced at City by David James, who has also taken his England place. James moved from division one West Ham.
Seaman had transferred to City after an illustrious 13-year career at Arsenal, where he made 563 appearances.
He helped the team win three league titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. Seaman has also played with Leeds, Peterborough, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers.
Last March, while still with Arsenal, he made his 1,000th career appearance.
"I believe I have had a fantastic career playing at the highest level," Seaman said.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who have stood by me and supported my career, especially during the tough times, the players who I will miss for their professionalism and friendship and the fans who have inspired my enthusiasm for the game."
Seaman became as well-known for his mustache and ponytail as his great saves and blunders.
Despite his age, Seaman showed he could still play last season, making several key saves for Arsenal against Southampton in its 1-0 FA Cup final win.
His hand save against Sheffield United in the semifinals of the same competition was regarded as one of the best of the season.
There have also been lows. Seaman was lobbed by Real Zaragoza's Nayim from the halfway line in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1995 and suffered the worst moment of his career in the 2002 World Cup.
Ronaldinho's long-range free kick beat a stranded Seaman as England lost to Brazil 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Seaman was pictured distraught after that match but continued his England career.
Seaman had another erratic performance against Macedonia in a Euro 2004 qualifier in June 2002, where a corner kick by Macedonia's Artim Sakiri sailed over his head as England was held 2-2 in a Euro 2004 game.
That was his last game for England. He had made his debut in 1988 in a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia.
Seaman said he had recommended James take his job.
"After deciding to retire it was a pleasure to recommend David James -- so I know the position is in safe hands," Seaman said.
"I wish him all the best. He is joining a great club with a first class manager in Kevin Keegan and a great squad.
"I am looking forward to getting the shoulder better in order to explore potential goalkeeper coaching opportunities."
City manager Kevin Keegan, one of Seaman's former England managers, signed the goalkeeper on a yearlong deal last July.
"This has been a difficult decision for David -- but I fully respect it," Keegan said.
FA Cup
Bolton was ousted from the FA Cup by second division Tranmere in extra time Tuesday, crashing to a 2-1 third-round replay defeat at the Reebok Stadium.
Ian Hume scored a minute into extra time to edge Tranmere past the Premier League side and into a fourth round tie against second division Luton.
Tranmere scored the first goal of the game in the 82nd minute through Eugene Dadi, but Bolton substitute Ricky Shakes equalized in the final minute to force extra time.
In other third round replays, third division Northampton set up a lucrative FA Cup tie with Manchester United by winning its replay 2-1 against first division Rotherham.
Northampton rallied from 1-0 down, with Martin Smith scoring the winner in the 54th minute, setting up another FA Cup meeting with United.
The fourth round will be played on Jan. 24-25. United will travel to Northampton for the match.
In the other replay ties Tuesday, Premier League side Wolves progressed, beating third division Kidderminster 2-0 with two goals from Kenny Miller.
Wolves play West Ham in the fourth round.
Preston beat Reading 2-1 with goals from George Koumantarakis and Richard Cresswell in an all-division one clash. Preston will now face second division Swansea.
Adam Nowland scored as Wimbledon beat fellow first division club Stoke 1-0 to set up a match against Birmingham.
Third division Scunthorpe beat second division Barnsley 2-0 to meet Portsmouth in the next round. Steve Torpey and Jamie McCombe scored for Scunthorpe.
Italian Cup
Marek Jankulovski, Alberto and Sulley Muntari missed scoring chances for Udinese, and Inter Milan escaped with a 0-0 draw at Friuli stadium Tuesday in a first leg match of the Italian Cup quarterfinals.
The Milan powerhouse, coming off a bitter loss to Parma in a crucial league match last Saturday, produced an unimpressive performance as it fielded second-team players to make up for the absence of striker Christian Vieri, midfielder Emre Belozoglu and defender Fabio Cannavaro.
Udinese, which lies seventh in Italy's Serie A, dominated the match for long periods but was unable to turn its supremacy into goals.
Czech midfielder Jankulovski and Brazilian Alberto missed first-half chances while second-half substitute Muntari, a Ghanian midfielder, squandered two consecutive opportunities within four minutes.
Copa del Rey
Ronaldo and Luis Figo netted second-half goals Tuesday as Real Madrid overcame a valiant Eibar 2-0 and advanced to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on a 3-1 aggregate score.
Madrid suffered throughout the third-round second-leg match as the second-division visitor threatened a shock result but spurned a string of good chances.
Carlos Quieroz's team, lacking injured David Beckham and striker Raul Gonzalez but fielding all its other stars, was forced into some desperate defense by Eibar, which was never overawed by its visit to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The Basque side, which gained a creditable 1-1 home draw in the first leg, created four goal chances before halftime with striker Gaizka Saizar missing two of them, while Madrid only came close through an early Ivan Helguera header.
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