Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has announced his retirement from football at the age of 33, intending to move into coaching.

A former Arsenal academy player who ended up spending 10 years with the Gunners – albeit with three of those years on loan to Birmingham City, Sunderland, and Juventus – Nicklas Bendtner has confirmed his retirement this week.

Bendtner had most recently played for Tårnby FF, but he’d also spent time with VfL Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest, Rosenborg, and Copenhagen since leaving Arsenal in 2014.

Speaking in quotes reported by the Daily Mail, Bendtner confirmed he’s now planning for life after professional football as a player.

“Football is a big part of my life and I can not leave it,” Bendtner said. “That is why I am in the process of taking the coaching education. I hope it will give me as much or maybe more than it did as a player. That way, I will always be a part of football.”

Arsenal have wished Bendtner a happy retirement, after 171 appearances, 47 goals and 22 assists for the Gunners. The striker also made 81 appearances and scored 30 goals for Denmark, playing for his country from 2006 to 2018.

According to Tårnby’s website, Bendtner had scored two goals and assisted three in his four appearances for their Old Boys side this season.