Montreal Impact striker Marco Di Vaio has announced his retirement from professional football.
The 38-year old Italian will call time on a two-decade playing stint at the end of the 2014 MLS season when his two-and-a-half-year career with the Impact comes to a close.
Di Vaio arrived in Montreal from Bologna in July 2012 and has since scored 36 goals in 78 appearances in all competitions for the Canadian club.
The former Parma, Juventus, Valencia, Monaco and Genoa and Italy attacker revealed the news on Friday, saying it was time to call it a day after a long and fruitful career.
"After a 20-year career, I am pleased to announce that I will be retiring in Montreal as a member of the Impact," Di Vaio said in a club statement.
"I am very proud of what I've accomplished over two decades as a pro. It was a dream of mine to play at the highest level and I will look to make the best of my final month as a player."
Di Vaio confirmed that the final regular season match of the 2014 campaign against DC United will be his last for the East's bottom-placed side.
"On the 25th, it's the last game," Di Vaio told reporters.
"I'll go back to Italy and start a new life. We'll see. I don't know what's coming for me in Italy, but I want to make the most of those last moments and contribute on the field.
"Right now, I'm not thinking about what's going to happen after the 25th."
Di Vaio, who will remain in an ambassadorial role with the Impact, believes that Major League Soccer is certainly on the way up and in a big way indeed.
"This is the future. MLS is the future of soccer," Di Vaio added. "I'm sure that in the next few years, a lot of great players will come to play in MLS. We are ready to be one of the best leagues in the world."
