Former England goalkeeper Ben Foster, who started his career at Racing Club Warwick, has announced his retirement from professional football today.

Foster, who left Watford after four years this summer, announced the decision on his podcast, The Cycling GK.

Having lived and worked in Leamington Spa, the former Manchester United shot-stopper is reported to have been just the second contracted player at the Racers.

The 39-year-old began his full professional career at Stoke City before going on to the Red Devils, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and then Watford.

Speaking on his podcast he said he had turned down an offer from Newcastle United since becoming a free agent.

"Deep down I didn't want to do it," Foster told his podcast, The Cycling GK.

"It sounds mad and it's such a hard thing to explain because there'll be millions of people up and down the country that will say 'you've just been offered a contract, a really good contract, by the richest team in the world to go and be second-choice goalkeeper and be part of something'.

"But I just didn't want to do it, I had this deep feeling, and the wrench of it was that I'd have to move away from home, that would kill me.

"If I'm in an apartment in Newcastle by myself, away from my family, I don't think people can understand. That's hard to do, especially at the age I am and with everything else I've got going on.

"I know for a fact if I'd have gone there I'd have had an amazing time, the lads would have been absolutely brilliant and I'd have buzzed off the stadium, the fans, all that kind of stuff, but the overriding sinking feeling was 'I don't want to do this.'"

Foster made over 500 career appearances, including eight for England.