BOBBY ZAMORA has announced his retirement through injury after a 17-year career in England’s top two divisions.
The striker, who won two caps for England in 2010/11, finally conceded defeat to the hip injury which cut short his second spell with Brighton and Hove Albion last season.
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Zamora, 36 next month, has been without a club since Albion released him in the summer – and confirmed his retirement on the club’s official website.
When asked if it is the end, he said: “I think so, yes. It was a frustrating time last year.
“My hip decided to let me down at the final hurdle. It resulted in just training on a Thursday and being in pain.
“It came to the end and I needed an op. I had the operation before the end of the season. It was frustrating but it was something I needed to do. I certainly couldn’t play.”
Zamora made the final appearance of his career in March against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship in a season when they were beaten in the play-offs.
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He added: "It was horrible and knowing now it went down to goal difference, I’d like to think I could have contributed a couple of goals which would have made the difference."
Zamora scored on his full senior debut in English football for Albion against Plymouth in February 2000, five months after starting out his career with Bristol Rovers.
He bagged 84 goals in 156 matches in his two stints on the south coast, before moving to Spurs for £1.5m in 2003 - but was a flop.
Zamora then moved to his local club West Ham - having been born in nearby Barking - in a deal which saw Jermain Defoe go the other way to Spurs, helping the Hammers get promoted back to the Premier League in 2006.
He moved to Fulham and was involved in their Europa League campaign when they reached the final during four years at Craven Cottage, before transferring to west London rivals QPR, who he also helped get promoted to the top flight.
Zamora made his England debut in 2010 in a friendly win against Hungary at Wembley, and in November 2011 started in a 1-0 friendly win over Sweden, also at Wembley.
In total, he scored 182 goals in a 565-game career and is also known for a particularly unfavourable chant, sung by Brentford fans: "When your sat, in Row Z, and the ball hits your head that's Zamora!"
He will be missed.
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