Alex Nyarko retires

Ex-Ghanaian international midfielder, Alex Nyarko, has retired from football aged 33. Nyarko ended his career with Swiss Challenge League (Division 2) side Yverdon Sports.

The midfilder claims to have heard an inner voice saying he should concentrate on his religious duties.

Nyarko started his career in Ghana, and then joined his first European team - Sportul Studen?esc in Romania. A year later he move to Swiss team FC Basel and then Karlsruher SC in Germany. He finally settled in RC Lens, played two seasons, and in 2000 joined Everton FC for £4.5M

Nyarko's miserable time at Goodison Park hit rock bottom when he was confronted by a fan infuriated by his perceived lack of effort in the 4-1 defeat against Arsenal in April 2001.

The giant Ghanaian - dubbed "the new Patrick Vieira" in a comparison that is as laughable as it is ironic when he arrived from Lens - instantly announced he was quitting football, only to later modify his decision and claim he was only quitting Goodison Park.

He went on loan to French giant AS Monaco FC and PSG between 2001 to 2003.

He made another 11 appearances for Everton in 2003-04, and was released after the season because his work permit expired and could not be renewed.

He then spent 6 months out of football, and joined I.K. Start in the 2005 winter league.

He became unattached again after the season, and then joined Swiss team Yverdon-Sport FC in June 2006