The Ivorian and Liverpool player, Kolo Toure, has officially announced his retirement from International football.

The 33-year-old centre-back made the disclosure barely after a week after his team won the 2015 Africa Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.

“It is with great emotion that I inform you that I am going to step back. It is a very difficult decision to take as I love my country and especially love football. But at some point, there comes a time to stop,” Kolo said on national TV RTI.

“I am going to introduce my successor at the heart of the defence to you. He is tough. This is Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba, the new boss of the defense. He is my successor,” he added.

Kolo Touré has been capped 110 times since he made his first appearance in 2000.

The former Manchester City and Arsenal defender appeared at the 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015 Africa Cups of Nations.

He also featured at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups for the Elephants.