Premier League cult hero Fernando Llorente, 37, retires from football as he reveals he will play new sport

PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero Fernando Llorente has retired from soccer aged 37.

Now the World Cup winner will strive his hand at a brand new sport as he swaps the pitch for the courtroom.

Fernando Llorente has retired from soccer aged 37Credit score: https://www.instagram.com/llorente_fer/?hl=en

The previous Tottenham man has been with no membership because the finish of final seasonCredit score: Reuters

Llorente has been with no membership since leaving Spanish second-division facet Eibar on the finish of final season.

And the striker known as time on his soccer profession as he revealed he needs to remain energetic by enjoying padel, the racket sport rising in reputation, particularly in Spain.

Llorente was requested on dwell TV: "Will not we see you on the pitch once more?"

However the striker replied: "No, no. Now I've all the things clear.

"I proceed to maintain match by enjoying padel."

Llorente got here via the ranks at Athletic Bilbao and spent eight profitable years within the first crew from 2005 to 2013 earlier than becoming a member of Juventus on a free switch.

In two seasons with the Previous Girl, he received two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and attain the Champions League last.

He switched Turin for Sevilla in 2015, profitable the Europa League, after which Swansea a yr later, scoring 15 targets to assist the Welsh membership keep away from relegation.

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Llorente signed for Tottenham in 2017 and was largely used as a back-up for Harry Kane.

Nonetheless, he'll all the time be remembered in North London for his controversial objective within the dramatic Champions League quarter-final in opposition to Manchester Metropolis in 2019.

Llorente bundled in from a nook and that proved to be the winner as Tottenham progressed on away targets after a 4-4 mixture draw on their approach to reaching the ultimate the place he picked up his second runner-up medal.

The Spaniard left Spurs on the finish of that season and had stints with Napoli and Udinese again in Italy earlier than returning to his homeland with Eibar.

He ended his membership profession with 203 targets in 676 appearances and added seven in 24 senior caps for La Roja, for whom he was a part of the profitable squads on the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

Llorente scored the dramatic objective to beat Manchester Metropolis within the Champions LeagueCredit score: Information Group Newspapers Ltd

The striker received the Europa League with SevillaCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation

He was a part of Spain's groups that received the World Cup and Euro 2012Credit score: EPA