Soler hangs up his boots

The 33-year-old has spent his whole career at his hometown club and says that only a persistent hip injury has forced him to hang up his boots for good.

The club's former skipper renewed his contract at Mallorca just last year but the hip injury forced him to call time on his career ahead of schedule.

Soler said goodbye to the club on Tuesday and was emotional at the thought of leaving Son Moix.

"I have lived through some great times at Mallorca and others that weren't so good but I'm leaving with the satisfaction of being part of a team that won promotion and then consolidated the club's place in the top flight," said Soler.

Mallorca are struggling with injuries on the pitch, with a triple blow ahead of their Uefa Cup tie next week.

With a 2-1 advantage over Cypriot side Apoel FC from the away leg, they will be without goalkeeper Leo Franco, and defenders Poli and Federico Lussenhoff.

Argentinian shot stopper Franco limped out of training on Tuesday with a sprained knee and the club's doctors believe he will be out for three weeks with the problem.

Poli will also miss about three weeks with a groin problem while Lussenhoff will be out for a month with ligament damage.