Former Liverpool defender Martin Kelly has announced his retirement from football, ending a 17-year playing career.

The 35-year-old English player came from Liverpool's youth training system and started his football journey at Anfield since joining the club at the age of 8.

Kelly made his first-team debut in a Champions League away game against PSV Eindhoven in December 2008, aged just 18. He went on to make 62 appearances for Liverpool between 2008 and 2014, primarily at right-back.

In 2011, Kelly scored his only goal for Liverpool in the League Cup quarter-final against Chelsea and won the League Cup that season with the team.

Kelly showed great potential early in his career, even making his England debut in May 2012 and being named in the squad for that year's European Championship. However, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury at the beginning of the following season, and his long absence hampered his development.

In 2014, Kelly left Liverpool for Crystal Palace, where he made 148 appearances and became a key member of the team's defense. In 2022, he joined West Bromwich Albion and was subsequently loaned to Wigan Athletic, but suffered another knee injury on his debut and eventually chose to retire.

Kelly recently revealed in an interview: "I talked to my family in March and I had the idea of retiring at that time. Later, I received an invitation to represent the Liverpool Legends team against Chelsea, and the game required me to retire, which made me more determined.

Kelly will make his next appearance for Liverpool Legends against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Saturday. Liverpool sent their well wishes to the former academy player in a statement, thanking him for his contribution to the club and English football, and wishing him well in his retirement.