Jason McAteer, who was released by Tranmere Rovers at the end of the season, has announced his decision to hang up his boots.

The former Republic of Ireland midfielder had been working as a player-coach at the Merseyside club but made his decision when his contract at Tranmere was not renewed.

The 35-year-old won 52 Ireland caps in a career spanning 16 years and appeared in the 1994 and 2002 World Cups, memorably scoring the crucial goal against Holland that secured Ireland's passage to the 2002 finals.

McAteer came to prominence at Bolton securing a dream move to hometown club Liverpool. He went on to play for Blackburn and Sunderland before moving to Tranmere in 2004.