Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is to leave the club at the end of the season, it has been confirmed.
Gerrard, 34, will not renew his contract with the club, ending his 25-year association with it.
He is believed to be eyeing up a deal to play in the US, where clubs have expressed an interest.
"I'm going to carry on playing," Gerrard said. "Although I can't confirm at this stage where that will be, I can say it will be somewhere that means I won't be playing for a competing club, and will not therefore be lining up against Liverpool — that is something I could never contemplate.
"My decision is completely based on my wish to experience something different in my career and life, and I also want to make sure that I have no regrets when my playing career is eventually over."
Chris Klein, the president of David Beckham's former club LA Galaxy, declined to comment on speculation he wants to sign him.
His former teammate Jamie Carragher tweeted it was a "sad day for Lfc and English football".
Gary Lineker called Gerrard "one of the finest players to have ever graced the Premier League" and a "top, top player".
Gerrard made his debut for Liverpool in 1998 and became the team's captain in October 2003. He first joined its youth academy when he was just nine. He was capped for England 114 times and led the team at two world cups and Euro 2012 but retired from international fixtures after the 2014 World Cup.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: "It is almost an impossible task to find the words to appropriately sum up Steven Gerrard and his importance to Liverpool.
"This is an era where the word 'legend' is vastly overused, but in his case it actually doesn't do him justice."
Steven Gerrard's Liverpool career
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Open Image ModalFresh faced, 1998.
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Open Image ModalSpotlight: A brilliant solo goal against Sheffield Wednesday in 1999 places Gerrard at the centre of attention.
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Open Image ModalA first trophy: the 2001 League Cup.
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Open Image Modal2001 Young Player of the Year
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Open Image ModalCelebrating the first of many memorable goals against Manchester United, March 2001.
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Open Image ModalFA Cup winner, 2001.
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Open Image ModalUefa Cup winner, 2001.
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Open Image ModalGerard. (credit:Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalCelebrating the opener against Manchester United in Cardiff...
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Open Image ModalTo win a second League Cup.
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Open Image ModalRafa. (credit:Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalNodding into his own net during the 2005 League Cup final against Chelsea to send the conspiracy theorists into overdrive.
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Open Image Modal2005 and all that.
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Open Image ModalEuropean champion.
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Open Image ModalOverwhelmed in Istanbul.
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Open Image ModalTriumphant after one of the great FA Cup finals, 2006.
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Open Image Modal600 up.
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Open Image ModalAgony in Athens, 2007.
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Open Image ModalGiving Liverpool the lead in The 4-1 at Old Trafford, 2009.
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Open Image ModalRemembering the 96, 20 years on.
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Open Image ModalRoy. (credit:Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalClinging on to the past at Old Trafford, 2010.
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Open Image ModalAnd again in 2011.
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Open Image ModalKenny. (credit:Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalA third League Cup, 2012.
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Open Image ModalBrendan. (credit:Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalSavouring another goal against United in front of the Kop, 2012.