Veteran former England striker Teddy Sheringham has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
Sheringham, who will turn 42 next month, is currently at Championship side Colchester United, where he will finally end his 26-year career.
Sheringham said: "After a long and fun-filled career I have decided this season will be my last.
"I've had a fantastic time and want to thank all those who have contributed to my career and helped me along the way."
Sheringham had two spells at Tottenham and played for six other clubs, including Manchester United, with whom he won the Champions League in 1999.
He started as an apprentice at Millwall in 1982 before he was signed by legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough in 1991.
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He then began a five-year spell at boyhood heroes Spurs before leaving for Old Trafford in 1997 in search of silverware.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson he won three Premier League titles, the first in 1999, which was rounded off with the FA Cup and the Champions League in a memorable treble-winning season.
Sheringham returned to White Hart Lane for two years in 2001 before switching to Portsmouth in 2003 and a year later for a three-campaign stint at West Ham.
He agreed a one-year deal with Colchester after being released by the Hammers last summer and has so far netted 361 career goals.
Sheringham added: "I've no immediate thoughts about going into management but football has always been my life and hopefully I will be back at some point in the future.
"Until then I have to try and help Colchester United stay in the Championship."
"My Dad wanted me to carry on and beat Sir Stanley Matthews' record but I feel this season is the right time to bow out"
"My Dad wanted me to carry on and beat Sir Stanley Matthews' record of playing at 50 but I feel this season is the right time to bow out."
Leading the plaudits after Sheringham's announcement were BBC pundits Mark Lawrenson and Lee Dixon.
Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender Lawrenson told Football Focus: "Teddy's had an absolutely fantastic career.
"Maybe he's played that bit longer because he's never had any great pace but that football brain has taken him to many great teams. A top, top player."
And ex-Arsenal and England full-back Dixon added: "He was a great pro on the pitch and gave me the runaround a few times. He's looked after himself and that's the key to his longevity."
Sheringham's former Millwall strike partner Tony Cascarino, writing his Times column, added: "His sharp brain compensated for the slow legs.
"He had the ability to pass the ball where and when team-mates wanted it, a talent for finding space and time amid the mayhem of a match."
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