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Cardiff City and Wales hero Robert Earnshaw has called time on his playing career, it has been announced.

‘Earnie’ made more than 200 appearances and scored 109 for the Bluebirds across two spells as well as winning 59 caps for his country but, at the age of 34, has opted to retire from club football following time in Major League Soccer with Vancouver Whitecaps.

It brings an end to one of the most colourful careers in recent Welsh football history with the striker the only player to have score hat-tricks in all four English leagues, the League Cup, the FA Cup and at international level.

Known for his trademark somersault celebration, Earnshaw had spells at West Brom, Norwich, Derby, Nottingham Forest, Blackpool, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Toronto and Vancouver.

Earnshaw:

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But it is time at the Bluebirds for which he will best be remembered after exploding onto the scene as a 20-year-old, helping his boyhood club to two promotions.

Along with fellow local lad Danny Gabbidon, Earnshaw was a central figure in the rejuvenated Cardiff sides after the turn of the century, breaking a 56-year club records for most goals in a season (35) in 2003 as part of the team that won a place in the Championship after play-off victory over QPR at the Millennium Stadium.

He also won Wales recognition around the same time, scoring on his debut against a Germany side that would reach the World Cup final the same year, bagging a total of 16 goals – placing in the top ten leading scorers in his country’s red shirt – while playing under Mark Hughes, John Toshack, Gary Speed and Chris Coleman.

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Born in Zambia and known for his infectious smile, Earnshaw left the Bluebirds in 2004 in a record £3.5m deal to West Brom and helped the Baggies to Premier League survival before going on to rack up moves of a combined £13m in fees.

He returned to Cardiff in 2011, but failed to have the same impact and eventually made his way to MLS where he linked up with fellow Wales cap Carl Robinson, currently impressing as manager of the Whitecaps, and helped the side to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference. Earnshaw will now take up an academy coaching role with the Canadian franchise.

In an open letter on the Vancouver website, Earnshaw said: “I have fond memories of watching my mum play football in Zambia and then in Malawi where I went to school, making footballs with plastic bags, having crocodiles as school pets, and living in an African coal mine village.

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“I was raised by my mum, who was working two jobs and still managed the time to support me. I have no doubt that this is where I get my energy and drive. I lost my father when I was nine so I never had a father figure.

“In a way, football has been like a father to me. It has taught me about life, about working hard and staying focused. Football has taught me about the world, about religion, nationalities and communities, and how regardless of our numerous backgrounds we can all come together to play a game we all love.

“From kicking footballs against our garage door in Caerphilly, Wales, to growing up and playing in the English Premier League, to gracing the international stage with Wales – I’ll never forget any of it.

"Being able to represent every fan and every football supporter in Wales 59 times, and scoring the winning goal against Germany on my debut are great moments I share with my country and are truly special to me.

“Football taught me how to be a man on and off the field and to be a better person. Football has given me a chance to play on the same team as some of my heroes and has also given me the opportunity to play against and share the pitch with some of the best players to have played the game, people like Ronaldinho, Del Piero, Kaka, Pirlo, Giggs, Ronaldo, Bergkamp, Henry, and Beckham – I could go on.”

“Congratulations to Earnie on a fantastic playing career,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson.

“I had the pleasure of playing with him at both the club and country level and last year as his coach. He was a model player throughout his career, approaching everyday with professionalism, demanding high standards for himself and his teammates.

"I now look forward to working with him and helping him in his new role. He has a bright football mind and we are excited to take advantage of that with our young players."