Nigerian international and former Portsmouth and Everton forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni has retired from professional soccer.

He made the announcement to coincide with his 35th birthday.

During his club football career in England Yakubu also played for Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers. In all, he made 250 Premier League appearances and scored 96 goals in a career spanning 20 years. He featured three times for fourth-tier side Coventry City this year before being released.

“I would like to officially announce my retirement from professional football today,” Yakubu told Sky Sports on Wednesday.

The powerful striker scored 21 goals in 57 appearances for Nigeria and took part in four Africa Cup of Nations as well as the 2010 World Cup.

“The Yak… is 3rd best all-time scorer for the senior national team. Thank you for the memories,” the Nigerian Football Federation tweeted.

Happy birthday former @NGSuperEagles striker Yakubu AIyegbeni. The Yak recorded a total number of 21 goals and he is 3rd best all time scorer of the senior national team. Thank you for the memories ?✨??? pic.twitter.com/fysBLQOtXj

— The NFF ?? (@thenff) November 22, 2017

Despite his brilliant performances throughout his career, many Nigerians still hold Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s howler against South Korea at the world cup game in 2010 against him.

And his career was over at this point … Happy birthday Yakubu Aiyegbeni, ur World Cup miss wud be hard for us to ever forget pic.twitter.com/dCTwVfd7H1

— UNCLE MUFASA (@kparaga) November 22, 2017

How was "Won ti gba Penalty wo Throwing" song not out during "Yakubu Aiyegbeni" era when he was still in the super eagles squad ??#DL_MadeInChinaByBeevLingz #PowerOf10Hands #SuperStarWednesday #AfriYANNG #tdigcomms pic.twitter.com/XxTysNntry

— Iam_Temitorpe (@Iam_Temitorpe) November 22, 2017