Rooney is the only player from England's 'Golden Generation' still playing

Ashley Cole's retirement from the game means that Wayne Rooney is the only player England's 'Golden Generation' still playing professional football.

After 804 appearances for club and country, as well as winning three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and one Champions League, the former Arsenal and Chelsea defender announced he has hung up his boots during appearance on Sky Sports on Sunday.

Cole, who Cristiano Ronaldo named as his most toughest opponent, was genuinely world-class and is quite comfortably the best left-back ever to play in the Premier League.

But with the 38-year old calling it a day, Wayne Rooney is now the only active player from England's entire Euro 2004 squad. The 'golden generation' - a nickname given to the exciting crop of players that should have achieved a whole lot more under Sven-Goran Eriksson - is close to being obsolete.

With the vast majority of the 2004 class that was knocked out by Portugal on penalties involved in coaching and punditry, Rooney is still doing the business over in the MLS with D.C United and will look to sign off with a MLS championship win before he returns to England for one final spell.

England's record goalscorer has signed a 18-month contract as a player-coach at Derby Country from January onwards and is expected to earn around £100,000-a-week at Pride Park. He will also take the first steps in his coaching career as part of the switch.