One of the Hyundai A-League greatest-ever goalscorers Shane Smeltz has announced his retirement from football.

Smeltz, 36, has decided to pull the curtain down on his career after 18 goal-laden years for both club and country.

The Kiwi international played for four different clubs during his Hyundai A-League career, starting with Wellington Phoenix in the 2007/08 Season.

After two seasons in Wellington he moved to Gold Coast United before switching to Perth Glory for the 2011/12 Season, helping the club reach the grand final.

Smeltz also had two seasons at Sydney FC before returning to Wellington one last 12 and making 12 appearances during the 2016/17 Season.

After a short stint in Indonesia with Borneo FC, the ex-AFC Wimbledon and Genclerbirligi striker has decided to call it a day.

"It's difficult to know when the right time is," Smeltz told NZME.

"I could potentially drag my career out a little longer, but I've got a transition I've had in mind for a number of years.

“I had a long career in the A-League and a great international career. It's all about timing and this is the right time."

In 10 seasons in the Hyundai A-League, Smeltz scored 92 goals in 190 games to sit second on the all-time goalscorers list with 92.

He won the golden boot award twice (2008/09 and 2009/10), while he was the Johnny Warren Medallist as the Hyundai A-League’s best player in the 2008/09 campaign.

At international level, Smeltz scored 24 goals in 58 games for New Zealand, including a famous strike against then World Champions Italy to earn a 1-1 draw at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Smeltz is now living on the Gold Coast with wife Nikki and daughters Bonnie and Scarlett, and plans to head abroad shortly to complete his UEFA A coaching licence.

"I'm not just going into coaching to take up a job. I go into it with drive and ambition which I always had as a player,” Smeltz said.

“I'm excited and really looking forward to it."