The big Belgian will call time on his playing career (Picture: Getty)
Former Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini is set to retire from football.
The former Belgium international left Old Trafford in 2019 to join Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan, making 139 appearances for the club.
The 35-year-old is now set to hang up his boots with the CSL season set to come to an end on Saturday.
Shandong Taishan head coach Choi Kang-hee head coach revealed the midfielder’s decision at a press conference on Friday ahead of that final game at home to Henan FC.
‘Though with some regret, I respect his decision to retire. He is a very great player,; Hang-hee said.
‘Maybe due to his age, his every post-game recovery was rather painstaking, which usually took one day or two.’
Shandong will hold a farewell ceremony for Fellaini after Saturday’s match.
Fellaini helped United lift the Europa League in 2017 (Picture: Getty)
‘In the past years, Fellaini has ignited our home atmosphere with goals and victories time and time again,’ a club statement read.
‘In this final battle, let us salute him and see him off with applause and cheers. A superstar when he came, a legend when he left.’
Following the conclusion of the league campaign, Shandong will play in the Chinese FA Cup final on 25 November where Fellaini will have the chance to add another winners’ medal to his collection.
Fellaini became Everton’s club record signing when he joined the Toffees as a 20-year-old in a £15million deal from Standard Liege in 2008.
After five fine seasons at Goodison Park, he joined United on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2013, becoming the first signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era as he followed David Moyes from Merseyside to Manchester.
While often maligned at United, he helped the club win the FA Cup in 2016, also part of Jose Mourinho’s side that won the EFL Cup and Europa League the following year. He made 177 appearances for the club, scoring 22 goals.
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