Dutch legend Ronald de Boer has announced retirement from professional football after struggling with a neck injury sustained at the Al-Shamal club in Qatar, Dutch media reported on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old has terminated his contract with the club amid concerns over the neck problem.

"I am now completely fit again, but the league here has two more matches to go and I do not want to risk getting injured again," he told Dutch media. "By terminating my contract, the club can sign an extra foreign player. Now a Brazilian is playing in my place."

De Boer had joined a set of clubs including Dutch sides of Ajax and Twente, Spain's Barcelona, Scotland's Rangers, and Qatar's Al-Rayyan.

De Boer, who mostly played as a midfielder, could play various roles including central forward. He had won five Dutch league titles with Ajax, one domestic title apiece with Barcelona and Rangers. His biggest success came in 1995 when he and Ajax won the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy.

De Boer played 67 times for the Dutch national side, scoring 13 times. He took part in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and the 1996 and 2000 European Championships.

In most of his career, de Boer had played alongside his younger twin brother Frank, who announced retirement in 2006 also at the Qatari club of Al-Shamal.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2008)