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Everton's Martyn calls it a day

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Martyn proved an inspiration as Everton qualified for the Champions League in 2005.

LONDON, England -- Everton's former England international goalkeeper Nigel Martyn announced his retirement from the game on Thursday because of a persistent ankle problem.

The 39-year-old, capped 23 times, has been sidelined since January with a hairline fracture which has not healed properly.

Martyn enjoyed a new lease of life after joining Premier League Everton from Leeds in September 2003.

His fine displays as David Moyes' team finished fourth in the Premier League in 2004-05 season to qualify for the Champions League were widely applauded.

"I have loved every minute of my time at Everton. I have a lot to be thankful to Everton for, because I was languishing at Leeds at the time," Martyn said.

"To be able to play two and a half seasons was a big thing for me because it meant I could finish my career properly."

Martyn became England's first million-pound goalkeeper when he moved to Crystal Palace from Bristol Rovers in 1989.

"Yesterday I had a follow up CT scan which was checking to see if the crack in the bone had healed any... but it clearly showed no healing," Martyn said.

"It means I will have to have another operation to pin the bones back together.

"It (retirement) was a decision based on being able to live a normal sort of life afterwards -- that was the primary concern because it is a nasty bone to have a problem in," he added.

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