Ex-Everton and Tottenham star Steven Pienaar retires from football at 35

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Bengaluru, March 2: Former South Africa captain and renowned Tottenham Hotspur and Everton winger Steven Pienaar has announced his retirement from football at the age of 35, bringing to an end a glorious 18-year career.

Pienaar started his career with Ajax Cape Town before making a move to parent club Ajax Amsterdam in 2001. He won two league titles and two Dutch Cups with Ajax Amsterdam, alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder during his early days. He later went on to play with Borussia Dortmund, Everton and Spurs.

The Bafana Bafana legend earned a cult status during his days at Everton, earning the Player of the Season honour in the 2009/10 campaign.

He also played for the relegated Sunderland team in British soil before moving to Bidvest Wits in South Africa last summer. His contract there ended in December.

And now, the player has decided to call it quits. "Today I'm announcing my retirement from football," Pienaar said in a video posted on Twitter. "I just want to say thanks to my mum, my family and all the clubs that I've played for and the supporters ofcourse, how could I forget you guys.

"Thanks for the love throughout my career. Follow me on social media, there's an announcement coming soon and you guys will be the first to know.

"Thanks for the love."

Pienaar also represented South Africa in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan and the 2010 edition on home soil, winning a total 62 caps with the national team and was also named the South African Player of the Year in 2009.

The playmaker, nicknamed 'Schillo’ after Italian 1990 World Cup striker Toto Schillaci, retired from international football in 2012.