Carr’s career comes to a halt

Former Republic of Ireland international right-back Stephen Carr has retired at the age of 36 and is moving to Spain to carve out a business career away from football.

Carr has not played for Birmingham City this season after breaking down with a knee injury in training.

He was offered a coaching role by manager Lee Clark but is making a clean break from football and is to move to Marbella where he has restaurant, bar and nightclub interests.

Carr, who made 44 appearances for Ireland between 1999 and 2007, said: “It’s head-banging in the end, working away for nothing and I think I need a break from it.

“It’s done my family’s head in too. So I will be off to Spain for a few years and see how it goes.