Yohan Cabaye retires from football at the age of 35

Former Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Yohan Cabaye has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.

Cabaye saw his one-year contract with Saint-Etienne expire at the end of last season and the Frenchman has decided to call it a day after 543 appearances at six different clubs.

The midfielder started his career with Lille in 2004 and helped the club win a league and Cup double in the 2010-2011 season. He also made 48 appearances for the France national team but was not part of the World Cup winning squad in 2018.

In an emotional tweet, which he captioned 'the final whistle', Cabaye shared a statement which read: 'It is with great emotion that after more than 17 years of passion, love for football, emotions greater than each other, memories that will forever remain serious in my memory, human encounters and unforgettable sports that I am announcing the end of my career as a professional footballer.

'Even if this decision may seem obvious and unavoidable having passed 35 in the world of football, it is still difficult to take and to accept because my love for football is immense.

'You have to know, then, to take a step back and especially measure the chance to have been able to live your passion, your childhood dream in order to be able to move forward.

'I cannot thank enough all the people that I have been able to rub shoulders with over the past few years; my teammates, my coaches, my leaders and my presidents, the supporters of the clubs I have been through but also those of the France national team who encouraged me when I had the honour of wearing the shirt of my country.

'Thank you my family, my friends as well as my agents who supported me and accompanies me throughout this adventure. Thank you to my five children, Myla, Charlize, Romy, Linoi and Maian for giving me so much love and strength to face certain difficult moments in the life of a footballer.

'Thanks to all of you, I went beyond my dreams. Thank you from the heart. Yohan Cabaye.'

Newcastle tweeted: 'Congratulations on a fantastic career @YCabayeofficiel and all the very best for the future!' They also posted videos of two goals he scored for them against Manchester United.

Palace hailed him 'one of the best to put on the shirt' and posted a clip of his goal in 2017's 3-0 win over Arsenal.

Cabaye signed for Alan Pardew's Newcastle in 2011 and helped the club finish fifth in the Premier League in 2012. The Frenchman was a popular figure at St James' Park, scoring 18 goals in 93 appearances during his three years at the club.

The midfielder left Newcastle in January 2014 after several rumours linking him with an exit. After Arsenal had a bid rejected, PSG swooped in to secure a £19million transfer. Cabaye went on to win two league titles, two Coupe de la Ligue titles and a Coupe de France.

The Frenchman returned to the Premier League in 2015, linking up with former boss  Pardew at Crystal Palace.

After three years with the Eagles he spent a season with Dubai-based club Al-Nasr before signing a one-year deal with St-Etienne in 2020. His last appearance came in the quarter-final of the Coupe de la Ligue in August last year.