Former England Under-21 captain Fabrice Muamba retires from football

Former England Under-21 captain and Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has announced his retirement from football.

Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest in an FA Cup Sixth Round tie at White Hart Lane on 17 March and has decided to retire from the game after taking on board expert medical advice.

He earned 33 caps for the Under-21s and appeared 24 times for four other England youth teams. He also represented the Under-21s in the European Championship Finals of both 2009 and 2011.

Muamba said: “Since suffering my heart attack and being discharged from hospital, I have remained utterly positive in the belief I could one day resume my playing career and play for Bolton Wanderers once again.

“As part of my on-going recovery, last week I travelled to Belgium to seek further medical advice from a leading cardiologist.

“But the news I received was obviously not what I had hoped it would be and it means I am now announcing my retirement from professional football.

“Football has been my life since I was a teenage boy and it has given me so many opportunities.

"Above all else, I love the game and count myself very lucky to have been able to play at the highest level.

“While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for.

“I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me.”

FA Chairman David Bermstein said: "On behalf of everybody at The FA I'd like to say how sorry we are to learn that Fabrice Muamba has had to end his professional football career.

"His recovery has been miraculous and a great tribute to all who have been involved.

"I would like to wish him the very best for the future and I know that the thoughts of the entire football family will be with him."