Former LA Galaxy defender Abel Xavier has quit football after converting to Islam. The once Everton and Liverpool player chose to abandon his livelihood after failing to find a club since leaving LA Galaxy last year.

Xavier spent three years at Goodison Park after arriving from PSV Eindhoven in 1999. In 2002 he became the third post-war player to cross Stanley Park to join Everton's rivals Liverpool, where he only made a handful of appearances despite scoring on his debut against Ipswich town.

Having now changed his name to Faisal Xavier, the 37-year-old has vowed to embark on humanitarian projects and admits that he has found comfort in his new-found faith.

He said: "It's an emotional goodbye and I hope to participate in something very satisfying in a new stage of my life.

"In moments of grief, I have found comfort in Islam. Slowly, I learned a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are foundations with which I identify."