Baggio to bow out next summer

Former Italian international forward Roberto Baggio has announced his intention to retire at the end of the season.

Injuries take their toll
The 36-year-old Brescia Calcio striker will call time on his playing career at the end of the current Serie A season, barring "incredible and unlikely changes," he said.

Strain showing
"This is the idea I have today and I think it will definitely be the case," Baggio told a local television station on Monday. "I suffered several injuries during my career and they have affected my way of running. It hurts and at this age is more difficult to fight against pain."

Consistent scoring
Baggio made his debut in Serie A with AC Fiorentina in 1986 and has gone on to score 196 goals in the Italian top flight. However the Divine Ponytail, who scored 27 goals in 55 matches for the national side, has not yet decided what he will do when he hangs up his boots, saying: "It's too soon to say. First I'll have to get used to thinking about not running around on pitches."