Ignashevich calls it quits

DEFENDER Sergei Ignashevich has announced his retirement from football after Russia lost to Croatia in the World Cup quarterfinals.

The 38-year-old holds the Russian record for most international appearances with 127 and his last act on a football field was to convert a penalty in Saturday’s 3-4 shootout loss to Croatia in Sochi.

“I feel pleasure and peace because I’m finishing on a high note by playing at the World Cup, in a quarterfinal with an excellent team and an excellent coach,” he said in a video statement released by the Russian team.

He added that he would have retired as professional footballer earlier if not for the World Cup and now plans to become a coach.

Ignashevich started all five of the host nation’s games at the World Cup, as Russia generally played a deep defensive line which compensated for his lack of speed. He won the UEFA Cup with CSKA Moscow in 2005, as well as six Russian titles, five with CSKA and one with Lokomotiv Moscow.