Besart Berisha announces his retirement from football

The most feared striker in A-League history has called time on his football career.

A-League legend Besart Berisha has announced his retirement from football.

Berisha, 36, scored 142 goals in 236 A-League appearances for Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory and Western United.

Widely regarded as the best striker in A-League history, Berisha won four A-League championships – two each with the Roar and the Victory.

The Kosovo and Albania international also tasted FFA Cup glory with the Victory in 2015, and was twice the A-League’s Golden Boot.

In an A-League career that spanned a decade after he joined the Roar in 2011 from German club Arminia Bielefeld, Berisha made his final appearance in the competition in Western United’s 3-0 loss to Wellington Phoenix on May 22 last year.

Not offered a new deal by United at the completion of the season, Berisha joined Football Superleague of Kosovo club Prishtina last September.

He announced his retirement on Friday via Instagram.

Besart Berisha (right) celebrates grand final glory in 2018 with them Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat. Picture: Tony Feder/Getty Images

“Dear fans, now the time has come. I will end my playing football career!,” he wrote.

“It’s been an unbelievable time that I will never forget, I remember when I started this game I always had a smile on my face and today I am smil(ing) again thinking of all the beautiful memories I had with the game!

“The moment I started this game to play I always dream(ed) to become a professional football player.

“I would like to thank God for mak(ing) my dream come true! I (would) like to thank my family for the support and always be(ing) there for me! I (would) like to thank all my teams!! @hsv @aabsportdk @achorsens @burnleyofficial @rosenborgballklub @arminiaofficial @brisbaneroarfc @gomvfc @sanfrecce.official @westernutdfc @fshforg @ffk_kos @fcprishtinaofficial!!

“You made this incredible time possible for me.”

Originally published as Besart Berisha announces his retirement from football