Jermain Defoe claims it was the "right time" to hang up his boots after a 22-year playing career spanning four decades. The former England international burst onto the scene at West Ham and will be remembered as one of the most prolific strikers in Premier League history.
Defoe became a Sunderland fan favourite during his first spell with the club, keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League and built a special friendship with Bradley Lowery. The 39-year-old returned to Wearside for one 'last dance' on January deadline day on a deal until the end of the season.
The Black Cats striker made six appearances since returning to the Stadium of Light but was unable to find the back of the net in his second spell. Despite still being in good shape, Defoe admits that his age was beginning to catch up with him.
READ MORE: Sunderland's Jermain Defoe announces retirement on career spanning four decades
Speaking to talkSPORT, Defoe said: "I just believe for me it's the right time. For the outside they look in and see highlights from the game and think he still looks sharp and fit, but as you get older it doesn't get any easier.
"I think the more time that goes on without really playing, it becomes really difficult. I didn't really want to block the path of someone coming through or someone coming back from injury. There's many factors, before I signed for Sunderland I went through a good six or seven weeks that I hadn't played or trained at any real level.
"I went to Sunderland and you try to get back up to speed, day by day, but games are running out. It's really difficult and I wasn't playing. A couple of times when I've played, although you might look sharp, you think, 'I'm a yard off there' or in training 'I'm a yard off here.'
"I just thought it was the right time. The niggles in the morning and the stiffness."
Simon Jordan was quick to praise Defoe for his friendship with Bradley Lowery during his time at Sunderland, a story that captured the hearts of the nation.
"I appreciate that thank you very much," said Defoe. "Football has given me and my family so much. To experience that with Bradley, you never think you're going to experience that.
"I've said so many times in interviews, when I met him he looked at me and the way he was, he welcomed me with open arms. I used to go to the house and see Bradley and go up to the hospital. I still speak to Gemma and Kieran now. I'm really close with the family.
"It was a tough time but I've got so many good memories. So many good memories which is important."
Defoe took up a coaching role during his time north of the border with Rangers, an important role as Steven Gerrard's side won the Scottish Premiership title. The former Black Cats striker now plans to spend time with family and friends before taking the next step in his career, one that he hopes is down the coaching route.
He added: "I don't think people realise a lot of coaching is speaking to people. You can go out and set a session up but a lot of coaching now is actually off the pitch, is speaking to younger players, speaking about the game and I think it's something I've always done anyway.
"To take it to the next level where I complete my badges would be great. Then if I have that you don't know where that will take you."
The Black Cats striker also paid tribute to his mother, who gave him his first football at two-years-old. He said: "At the end of the day, I was lucky as a kid. The support I had from my mum - to be a single parent and be a woman taking me to every game, even sometimes when the car wouldn't start, I remember we used to get up in the morning and she had a blue Nissan Micra.
"Sometimes we'd get up in the morning and the car wouldn't start and I'd bee like 'Ah mum.' I didn't want to make her feel bad about it and one of our neighbours would give us a lift to the game and stuff like that.
"From day one the support from my mum has been unbelievable. All the way through, every single game. She bought me a ball at two-years-old and took me over to the park and let me crack on. That was it the love from the game started there."
