Tomas Rosicky retires from professional football, having spent more than 1000 days on the sidelines in an injury-laden career for Sparta Prague, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.

The former Arsenal midfielder has today announced that he will be retiring from professional football with immediate effect.

Tomas Rosicky retires

Rosicky was playing for Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic, but feels that he’s no longer physically capable of playing professional football.

https://twitter.com/ACSparta_EN/status/943423126565801984

“After careful consideration I have realised I am no longer able to fully prepare my body for what the professional football requires,” Rosický said in a press conference.

“I would like to thank Sparta for raising me, for being the first step in my career in big clubs, and for allowing me to say goodbye at the place I love the most.”

The Czech joined Arsenal in 2006 and made 247 appearances for the club before departing in 2016. His Arsenal career was blighted with injuries. He spent almost 1,000 days on the sidelines. Those injury problems stuck with him for the rest of his career.

Although he returned to his boyhood club, Sparta Prague, he only managed to make 13 appearances.

Now 37, Rosicky has decided to call time on a career spanning 19 years, 506 club appearances and 105 international caps.