FORMER Real Madrid playmaker Guti has decided to end his playing career, the AS sports daily said yesterday.

Guti (35) was quoted by AS as saying that he will take a coaching course offered at Real’s Valdebebas training ground.
Guti failed to reach agreement about a contract with English club West Ham United on Tuesday. He has been out of contract since leaving Turkish side Besiktas in November 2011.

Guti - whose full name is Jose Maria Gutierrez Hernandez - played 387 games for Real between 1995 and 2010 and scored a total of 46 goals in the process. However, he was frequently jeered by a section of the Real fans because of his alleged lethargy and low work-rate.

He failed to impress at international level, playing just 14 times for Spain between 1999 and 2005, without being selected for a major tournament. – Nampa/Sapa