BRETT Emerton has decided to pull the curtain down on one of Australian football's most distinguished careers.
Sydney FC's marquee, troubled by worsening back problems all season, has told the club he intends to retire, it's believed with immediate effect.
Emerton earned the last of his 94 caps for Australia in December 2012 at the East Asian Cup, but has abandoned hopes of completing a century of appearances.
The move is likely to open the way for Sydney to make a concerted effort to land Tom Rogic as their Australian marquee, although Melbourne Victory are believed to be in pole position to land Rogic's signature.
For Emerton, it completes a remarkable career that saw him play at two World Cups and score 20 times for his country, including several vital goals in World Cup qualifiers.
But he has struggled for form and influence in games, thanks in part to Sydney's own struggles on the pitch, and cut a dejected figure when he was substituted during Saturday's derby.
The epilogue of his career in no way reflected the preceding 18 years, after he starred at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and earned a move to Dutch side Feyenoord.
Playing alongside Shinji Ono and Robin van Persie, Emerton was a central figure in Feyenoord's run to the 2002 UEFA Cup final, though he missed the final through suspension.
In demand from various English clubs, Emerton elected to join Blackburn Rovers in July 2003, eventually making almost 250 appearances for the Premier League side.
