Kim Kallstrom announces retirement from football

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Kim Kallstrom announced on Friday he is calling time on his football career
The former Arsenal midfielder won the FA Cup in his loan spell at the Emirates
He also won the French league and cup in six years at Lyon
The 35-year-old played 131 games for Sweden and appeared at one World Cup

Published: 09:53 EDT, 15 December 2017 | Updated: 09:53 EDT, 15 December 2017

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Former Arsenal and Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom announced on Friday he is calling time on a football career that stretched over almost two decades.

Famed for his powerful and precise left foot, Kallstrom returned to Djurgardens IF in Stockholm in February after a 14-year spell abroad in which he represented Rennes and Lyon in France, Russian club Spartak Moscow and Swiss side Grasshopper.

He won the French league and cup with Lyon and added England's FA Cup in 2014 during an injury-plagued spell on loan at Arsenal.

Sweden's Kim Kallstrom announced on Friday he is calling time on his football career

Kallstrom insisted that he no longer has the energy or desire to train in between the 'fun' matches.

'I feel I'm done, and I've done what I can on the field,' the tearful Kallstrom told reporters at an emotional news conference in Stockholm.

'It's fun to play matches at the weekend, but you have to be able to do the work during the week. I feel I lack the energy there.'

Kallstrom won the FA Cup in 2014 during an injury-plagued spell on loan at Arsenal

He won the French league and cup during a six year spell at Lyon

During Arsenal's successful FA Cup campaign in 2013/14, Kallstrom came off the bench in extra time to score a penalty in the semi-final shootout win over Wigan at Wembley.

The 35-year-old also played 131 games for Sweden and appearing at the finals of three European Championships and one World Cup.