Former France defender William Gallas has announced his retirement, bringing to an end a decorated 19-year professional soccer career, he said on Thursday.

"You tell yourself you can always continue but I think that today I can't," the 37-year-old center back told TV channel L'Equipe 21 in an interview to be aired later on Thursday.

Gallas, who started his professional career at Caen in 1995, won 84 caps for France and scored five goals, including the controversial strike in Les Bleus' 2-1 playoff win against Ireland that earned the side a 2010 World Cup berth.