Former Leeds captain Jason Pearce has announced he is hanging up his boots to move straight into coaching with Charlton Athletic.

It brings an end to the 34-year-old's 16-year professional career which included spells at Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Wigan and Charlton.

"This has been one of the most difficult decisions of my career," he wrote in a heartfelt letter on Charlton's website. "To stop something you love when you don't physically have to.

“After speaking to a lot of people I trust in the game and the closest people to me, as well as a lot of thinking myself, I've made the decision to retire from football.

"People may question my decision to stop playing but, for me, I've given everything, put my body to the limit every day physically and feel I've achieved all I can so now it's time for a new challenge."