FORMER Blackburn Rovers winger David Bentley has announced his retirement from football at the age of 29.

Bentley has been without a club since leaving Tottenham Hotspur last June.

His final game as a professional footballer came in a Rovers shirt.

Bentley made seven appearances for the Ewood Park outfit at the back end of the 2012-13 season after rejoining on loan from Tottenham.

The former England international started his career at Arsenal and went on to make 133 appearances for Rovers after signing, initially on loan, for the club in August 2005.

Bentley scored 21 goals for Rovers including a hat-trick in a memorable 4-3 home win over Manchester United in February 2006.

After expressing his desire to leave Bentley joined Tottenham for £15m in July 2008.

He signed a long-term contract with the White Hart Lane club.

But he made just 62 appearances for Tottenham, scoring five goals.

Bentley, who won seven England caps, said: "I've lost my love of the game and I didn't want to carry on just for the money."