Former Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has explained why he retired from football.

The Danish defender spent almost a decade at Anfield before heading back to his boyhood club Brondby FC. He left in 2014 after a falling out with then coach Brendan Rodgers. The 31-year old revealed how he was forced to take painkillers for several years when he was playing actively. The player has played for just two clubs in the whole of his career. Brondby, all through his youth until he joined Liverpool in the 2005/2006 season for £7.5 million and then returned years later.

Agger revealed how he collapsed on the pitch causing him to finally give up on trying. The Sun reported that Agger was heading to FC Copenhagen on the Brondby team bus when he the combination of arthritis pills and a caffeine drink made him not remember any of the first half. He blacked out as he removed less than 30 minutes into the game. He said he sat down to think after the incident then he decided to quit the game.

“I’ve taken too many painkillers in my career. I know it, and it is bad. But, I’ve stopped doing it now. I’m done with this circus,” he said. Agger has 232 caps to his name for the Kop with 14 goals total in those appearances.

Former team mate Steven Gerrard paid tribute to the player on popular social media app, Instagram. Liverpool fans reacted a lot to the news especially as there reports that the player could return to the team this summer. The fans sang his praise on social media and Gerrard joined them. Gerrard, who is now playing in the Major League Soccer, USA is still being linked with a possible coaching job in future at Anfield.