Vieira hangs up his boots

Former World Cup winner Patrick Vieira has announced his retirement from professional football and will take up a newly-created role off the pitch with Manchester City.

The 35-year-old Frenchman, who was released by City at the end of last season, has accepted the position of football development executive and will help in the development of young players, among other responsibilities.

Vieira said: “This role is a fantastic new challenge for me and I am very grateful to Manchester City for offering me this opportunity.

“I have a lot to learn about the non-playing areas of the business but there are many very experienced people here for me to learn from and I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to the club’s ongoing success.”