Costa Rican soccer star Paulo César Wanchope announced Friday that he's giving up the game because of problems with his knees.

The famous forward, who has most recently played for the U.S. Chicago Fire team, held a press conference in Costa Rica to make the announcement, assuring that he'll stay “tied to soccer” in some way.

“It's been a difficult decision, but I have to make it,” Wanchope said. “I've always been known to give 100% so that things go well … and sadly these last games haven't been to my satisfaction, so that's why I decided to retire from soccer.”

Wanchope received harsh criticism for his performance with the Chicago Fire, especially after the team lost in a playoff game.

“I'm going out calmly because I took advantage of every opportunity I was given to play soccer. I didn't waste time, which is the most important thing when one is going to retire, to be able to look back and say that things went well, that I was a good professional … that gives me the peace to be able to say goodbye to soccer,” Wanchope told the press.

Wanchope began his soccer career in 1994 with the team of Heredia, north of San José. In 1997 he was hired to play for Derby County, England, and stayed in that country to play for West Ham and Manchester City.

This athlete and heartthrob also took to the field in Spain, Qatar, Japan and Argentina and competed in the World Cup in Korea and Japan in 2002 and in Germany in 2006.