Former England international striker Rickie Lambert has announced his retirement from football.

Lambert, 35, who has been a free agent since leaving English Championship leaders Cardiff City in the summer by mutual consent,  scored 218 goals in 607 league games for nine clubs over a 19-year career.

On his retirement, the former Liverpool, West Brom and Southampton star said: “I feel lucky to have been involved in this sport for as long as I have.”

“I have had some ups and downs in my career, but to have represented clubs like Southampton and Liverpool and playing for my country in a World Cup were beyond my wildest dreams.

“Playing and scoring for England is probably my proudest professional moment and I will look back at every aspect of how I got there with fond memories.” he further stated.

Lambert spent his early career in the Football League. He started at Blackpool and included spells at Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers.

He was however able to realise his ambition of playing in the Premier League, at the age of 30 in the colours of Southampton. Lambert thereafter moved to Liverpool before he ended his top flight career at West Brom.

Rickie Lambert moved from the Midlands to Wales (Cardiff City), where his football career ended.

He scored three goals in 11 appearances for England and also featured at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.