Advertisement

Alvaro Arbeloa: Final season at West Ham helped convince me to retire

Struggle: Alvaro Arbeloa made just three appearances for the Hammers: Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images
Struggle: Alvaro Arbeloa made just three appearances for the Hammers: Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images

Alvaro Arbeloa has admitted his season at West Ham helped convince him to hang up his boots.

The defender called time on a professional career spanning 15 years with an announcement in Spanish newspaper Marca.

Arbeloa, who also spent two years at Liverpool, won La Liga once and the Champions League twice during a seven-year spell at Real Madrid but made just three appearances at the London Stadium.

"I always thought I would play until my legs held out, but in the end it was a head and motivation issue," he told Marca.

"Many times you consider life in a way or see the future in a way, but life has other things prepared and you have to know how to accept them and face them.

"Things this season did not come out as I had dreamed. I am being honest with myself when I say goodbye."

He added: "It has been complicated. It’s something that when it comes to my mind I try not to think much about.

"At a professional level it has not been an easy year and that also has a personal impact, of course."