Former Portugal star Sergio Conceicao has retired from the game.

The 35-year old, who most recently captained Greek club PAOK, has decided to hang up his boots and has taken the job as technical director of the Thessaloniki outfit.

Conceicao began his career in 1993 with Penafiel in Portugal before moving onto Leca, Felgueiras and Porto.

He then made the move to Italy, joining Lazio in 1998 and then enjoyed stints with Parma, Inter Milan, another stint at Lazio before returning to Porto.

Since then he played in Belgium with Standard Liege from 2004-2007 and in Kuwait with Al-Qadisiya Kuwait before landing in Greece in January 2008.

"This is one of the most difficult days of my career because it signals the end of my playing days," Conceicao, who was capped 56 times at international level, told a news conference.

"I am satisfied though because I achieved many things and if I measure the good times against the bad, there were far more good moments."