Shota Arveladze to retire at end of season

Jonathan Roorda - 12 April 2008 13:55

Shota Arveladze [Left], here for Georgia

VALENCIA, Apr 12 (SW) - Georgian striker Shota Arveladze announced to be retiring at the end of this season, after a more than disappointing year at Levante in Spain.

Arveladze joined Levante at the start of this season, but has been injured most of the year and only recently made his debut for the Valencian side.

The forward struggled with a knee injury that left him sidelined, forced to watch how his team moved closer and closer to relegation.

Shota, now 35 years old, began his career at hometown side Martve Tbilisi in 1990, and also played for Iberia Tbilisi and FC Dinamo Tbilisi.

In 1993, Arveladze moved to Turkey to join Trabzonspor where he would score 46 goals in 78 appearances.

Four years later, it was time to discover western-Europe and Arveladze signed a deal with Ajax Amsterdam. Later, he would also represent Glasgow Rangers and AZ Alkmaar, where he played until the end of last season.

For the Georgian national team, Arveladze scored 22 goals in 53 appearances.