Pires has finally decided to hang up his boots. (Picture: Getty)

Former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires has finally announced his retirement from football at the age of 42.

Pires, who won two Premier League titles and claimed three FA Cup winners medals during his time with Arsenal, was also and integral member of Arsene Wenger’s Invincible’s squad during the 2003-04 season.

The Frenchman, who has been a free agent for over a year, last played competitive football in the Indian Super League with FC Goa after stints with Villarreal and Aston Villa as his career tailed off.

The news of Pires’ official retirement means he is the final player of France’s successful 1998 World Cup winning player to hang up his boots, hoping to ‘make way for the young’ in his own words.




‘I’m 42 years old so some time must stop, we must say stop and above all must give way to young,’ Pires said.