LONDON: After an illustrious playing career full of remarkable cup comebacks alongside jarring Premier League lows, Steven Gerrard is done.

The 36-year-old Gerrard, who won every major club honor with Liverpool apart from the English title, said Thursday he was retiring from soccer after an 18-year professional career.

"You are aware that time is coming towards the end, the body starts talking to you," the former England captain told British broadcaster BT. "The pains and the aches get more regular. The way you feel out there on the pitch changes.

"Over the last couple of years I've felt myself slowing down a little bit and I basically can't deliver what I used to be able to deliver and that becomes a little frustrating as time goes on."

Gerrard, who also made 114 appearances for England, now has a decision to make about his next job.

"I am excited about the future and feel I still have a lot to offer the game, in whatever capacity that may be," Gerrard said. "I am currently taking my time to consider a number of options and will make an announcement with regards to the next stage of my career very soon."

Gerrard was in talks about becoming manager of third-tier club MK Dons last week but decided that vacancy came a "bit too soon."

"I definitely have dreams and aspirations of having a go at management or assisting the manager and being back involved in the dressing room," Gerrard said. "But I've got many, many years to do that."