Santiago, July 19: Veteran Chilean footballer Ivan Zamorano has announced his retirement. Chile striker Ivan Zamorano announced his retirement on Friday at a news conference alongside President Ricardo Lagos in the presidential palace. Fans gathered outside the palace calling on 36-year-old Zamorano, who enjoys cult status in Chile, to reconsider. "I think I have made the most important decision of my career, to say goodbye to soccer." said Zamorano, known as Bam-Bam to his fans. The player said Lagos deserved to be the first to know that he was retiring because he was a close friend. Zamorano said he would now dedicate himself to philanthropic work through his own foundation and as an ambassador for the U.N.'s children's agency UNICEF. "One has to be grateful about the things that are given us. The fondness and affection that the people have given me, that my people of Chile have given me. I think for me it's unpayable," said Zamorano. "And, from now on, I think my life begins to give all of that back."


Zamorano shares the record for the most international goals for Chile with Marcelo Salas, both having scored 34.


Zamorano began his soccer career in Chile but made his name with Real Madrid and later Inter Milan, playing overseas for 14 years. His last foreign club was Mexico's America, where he added another championship to his collection.


The striker most recently played for Chile's best known club Colo Colo, but was banned for 11 matches earlier this month for hitting and insulting the referee during a stormy match against Cobreloa.


Newspapers had suggested for months that Zamorano's retirement was imminent and speculation intensified after the ban.


Bureau Report