Rickie Lambert announces retirement aged 35 after career that saw striker play for Southampton, Liverpool, West Brom and England

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Former England striker Rickie Lambert has called time on his playing career at the age of 35.

Lambert, who won 11 caps and score three goals for the national team in 2013 and 2014, hangs up his boots after 701 professional games and 241 goals for nine clubs in the top four divisions.

Starting his career at Blackpool, the forward went on to play for Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers, Southampton, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City.

Rickie Lambert celebrates scoring for England in their 2013 friendly win over Scotland

The striker enjoyed his most successful spell at Southampton, scoring 117 times for the club

Lambert's form in 2014 earned him a move from Southampton to Liverpool

Having spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues, earning a promotion from each division, Lambert realised his ambition of playing in the Premier League for Southampton at the age of 30.

His excellent form for the Saints earned Lambert a call-up to the England squad for the ill-fated 2014 World Cup in Brazil and a subsequent move to Liverpool.

In a statement released on Monday lunchtime, Lambert said: 'I feel lucky to have been involved in this sport for as long as I have. 

Lambert celebrates a goal for Southampton in a 2012 Championship match at Crystal Palace

Lambert scored three goals in his 11 appearances for the England national team

The most memorable of those goals was his towering header on debut against Scotland

'I have had some ups and downs in my career but to have represented clubs like Southampton, Liverpool and playing for my Country in a World Cup were beyond my wildest dreams.

'Playing and scoring for England is probably my proudest professional moment and I will look back at every aspect of how I got there with fond memories.'

'I would like to thank the fans of all of the clubs I played for but especially at Southampton where I enjoyed my best years as a footballer and had a special relationship with everyone connected to the club.

'Thank you to all the players I have played with and managers I have played for throughout my career, it was an honour to work with you all. 

'Thank you to my family and friends who have always been there for me, especially my gorgeous wife Amy.

'I will be taking a break for a while to spend some quality time with my family just being a husband and father. In the future I hope to give back as best I can to the game that has given me so much.' 

Lambert ends his professional career after 701 games, in which he scored 241 goals

Lambert finds the net for Southampton in a Premier League meeting with Newcastle in 2014