Nakata in shock retirement

Hidetoshi Nakata has announced his retirement from football at the age of just 29.

The midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers, started all three games as Japan finished bottom of Group F at the World Cup finals, but has now opted to bring a premature end to his glittering playing career.

Nakata was twice named Asian Player of the Year as he established himself as the continent's most iconic star during a career that encompassed a lengthy spell in Italy.

Now any hopes Trotters boss Sam Allardyce may have had of keeping him on at The Reebok Stadium have been scuppered by his shock announcement.

"I decided half a year ago that I would retire from the world of professional soccer after the World Cup in Germany," said a statement on the player's website.

"I will never go out onto the pitch again as a professional football player, but I will never give up football."

An official from the star's management company also confirmed the news, stating: "Nakata said on his Internet page that he is retiring. There is no mistake."

Nakata begun his footballing life with Japanese outfit Bellmare Hiratsuka, and embarked on a career that would bring him the Asian Player of the Year award in both 1997 and 1998.

After his first of three World Cup finals appearances, in France in 1998, Nakata secured a move to Perugia and quickly became a Japanese icon as he starred in Italian football.

It was a transfer to Roma that provided him with the highlight of his career however, as the Giallorossi claimed the Scudetto in 2001.

Nakata also played for Parma, Bologna and Fiorentina in Serie A before a loan spell with Bolton last season, and he retires having played 77 times for his country, scoring 11 goals.

His standing as an ambassador for football and his country was confirmed in 2004 when he was named in the Fifa 100, Pele's list of the 100 greatest living players, whilst a year later he was awarded with one of Italy's highest honours, The Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, for helping to promote the country's image overseas.

Allardyce has now paid tribute to the former Bolton man, hailing his trailblazing move to Italy in 1998.

"The news isn't a surprise as far as I am concerned," said Allardyce on the club's official website.

"Hide has had the time to think about his future and has decided that the best outcome is for him to hang up his boots.

"He's had a glittering career and has achieved plenty in the domestic game.

"He will be remembered as the catalyst of Asian and Japanese football, and also the first Japanese export to European football.

"It was a privilege to work with him last season."