Ex-Galatasaray forward Baros to retire at end of season

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Milan Baros, a former Galatasaray forward from Czech Republic, will retire at the end of the current season due to injury issues.

"Milan Baros officially announced today that he will end his active playing career after the current season. The main reason is chronic health problems, which no longer allow him to prepare well," Baros' club Banik Ostrava said on Friday.

"The head would like to go on, but the body said stop. Health problems have been with me for a long time and the body simply does not work as I was used to and as I would need. I especially hurt so much that I can no longer play or train," Baros said.

Baros, who will hang up his boots at 38, has been complaining about problems in his Achilles tendons.

He won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.

Baros won the French top-tier Ligue 1 titles with Olympique Lyon in 2007 and 2008.

In 2008 he joined Galatasaray to be the top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig.

He won the Turkish league title with Galatasaray in 2012.

Baros scored 61 goals in 116 appearances for the Istanbul club.

This season, he netted three goals in 18 matches for Banik Ostrava.

Baros was one of the key players for the Czech national team, scoring 41 goals in 93 international matches.