Soccer: Shearer calls it a day

LONDON - Former England captain Alan Shearer has played his last professional game for Newcastle United after announcing today he will miss the rest of the season.

"I'm finished now and I have great memories," he was quoted as saying in Saturday's Sun newspaper.

"The fact I won't be able to play the last three games is disappointing but I'm not complaining. How could I?"

The 35-year-old was due to retire at the end of the season but injured knee ligaments in Monday's 4-1 Premier League win over local rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

"I had focused on going all the way to the last game of the season against Chelsea and then my testimonial," he said. "But we don't live in an ideal world.

"Hopefully, I'll be able to kick off the testimonial but there's lots of people worse off than me."

- REUTERS