Danny Dichio has announced his retirement from football after playing Major League Soccer with Toronto FC for the past two seasons.

Dichio moved to Sunderland from Sampdoria in the summer of 1998 and helped Peter Reid's side to the record-breaking 105 points tally that sealed promotion to the top-flight.

Throughout that campaign, Danny will be remembered by supporters as the back-up striker to Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn's prolific partnership, however, the big man still managed to notch 12 goals despite playing second fiddle to Phillips and Quinn.

Just over a decade has passed since that record-breaking season and now the 34 year-old has decided to call it a day.

The 6ft hitman left Wearside for West Brom in 2001 for £1.25 million. He has also plied his trade at Derby County, Millwall and Preston North End, scoring a further 37 league goals.

In April 2007, Dichio was released from his contract at Deepdale, a decision that did not sit well with Lilywhite fans, in order to join the newly created MLS club Toronto FC.

During his first season in the US, he scored 11 goals, including the club's first-ever goal and the club's last goal of its inaugural season.

Danny will now take on the role of academy coach and team ambassador at the Canadian club.

Dichio's announcement comes days after former Sunderland star Dwight Yorke's decision to hang up his boots.

The 37 year-old former Manchester United star, who was brought to the Stadium of Light by Roy Keane in 2006, left Sunderland in May and officially announced he would be retiring from the game last week.

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