Holland international Marc Overmars has surprisingly announced that he will be retiring as of Tuesday, Dutch media reported on Tuesday.

Overmars, 31, has been told that he is no longer needed in Barcelona and although he would be able to sit out the rest of his contract with Barcelona and earn a fistful of bench bucks.

However, Overmars told some Dutch media on Monday that his niggling knee injury makes it impossible for him to be able to perform at the highest level.

"My future as a footballer ends here. My knee has caused me lots of problems and I can no longer continue to play at the level that I want," he said.

"I can fool myself but if I go on now I will certainly glide off. That I don't want. I also do not want to stay another year at Barcelona just to get some money," he was quoted as saying.

Overmars started his career at Go Ahead Eagles before moving to Ajax just two years later with whom he won the Champions League title in 1995.

Overmars moved on to Arsenal in 10 million euros in 1997 before moving on to Barcelona for 35 million euros, a record deal for the Catalans.

Overmars has been a fixture on the Dutch national team for the past decade, appearing 86 times and scoring 17 goals.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2004)