Vieira retires to take up new City post

France great Patrick Vieira has retired as a player to take up a new role of football development executive at current club Manchester City, the Premier League side said on Thursday.

Born in Senegal the 35-year-old won three Premier League titles with Arsenal and four FA Cups.

He also won 107 caps for France and was a member of their 1998 World Cup winning side.

According to a City statement, Vieira's new post will entail "a wide ranging role, helping to deliver the club's social responsibility programme, both in the UK and abroad, as well as working closely with City's commercial partners".

The statement added Vieira would also take an "active role in the development of youngsters at the Platt Lane complex, providing mentoring support as part of the Academy's Multiskills Programme, which seeks to provide a well-rounded lifestyle education for the club's junior players".