Just five days short of the 18th anniversary of his first professional game, former England captain Steven Gerrard has called time on his playing career.

The ex-Three Lions skipper appeared at three FIFA World Cups – playing 12 games and scoring three goals, including a quarter-final appearance at 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ – and also made it to the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005 with Liverpool. Lauded for his service with the latter, helping them to three UEFA trophies – the high-point being the 2005 UEFA Champions League – and five domestic cups, the plaudits rolled in after he announced his decision.

"Following recent media speculation surrounding my future I can confirm my retirement from playing professional football,” Gerrard explained in statement. "I feel lucky to have experienced so many wonderful highlights over the course of my career.

"I am proud to have played over 700 games for Liverpool, many of which as captain. At an international level, I feel privileged to have won 114 England caps and to have had the honour of captaining my country," he continued. "I will always look back with great pride at every time I pulled on the England shirt. I feel very fortunate to have had the career I’ve had but none of it would have been possible without the support of so many people."

Below we look across some responses from the stars of the game to Gerrard's announcement.