Athletic Bilbao veteran striker Aduriz hangs up his boots

CAIRO_ 21 May 2020: Athletic Bilbao striker, Aritz Aduriz, announced on Wednesday retirement from football at age of 39.

The veteran striker revealed earlier that he will put an end to his career at the end of 2019_2020 season but he was advised to undergo hip replacement surgery.

"Unfortunately, my body has said "enough". Many times, I have said that football will leave you before you leave it," The striker wrote on Twitter.

Aduriz dreamed of finishing his career at the all-Basque Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, which was scheduled in April but was postponed amid coronavirus pandemic.

Aduriz added "Yesterday, the doctors told me to go see the surgeon, sooner rather than later, to get a prosthetic to replace my hip and try to go about my everyday life, as normally as possible."

The veteran striker wore the jersey of Los Leones in 296 appearances and scored 141 goals for the club.

Aduriz spent most of his career playing for the Basque giants and he also had spells with Real Mallorca and Valencia at Laliga.