Former Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis has announced his retirement from football.
At the age of 39, the 12-cap France international confirmed on French television he has decided to hang up his boots.
And it means the end of one of the most striking goal celebrations.
Gomis would often imitate a panther stalking and clawing its prey when he found the back of the net during a two-year Premier League spell at Swansea.
Unfortunately for Swansea, it was only unleashed 17 times after arriving from Lyon amid much hope in 2014.
He did manage key goals in wins over Manchester United and Arsenal – twice each – in his time at the Liberty Stadium during Garry Monk’s time in charge.
But he did not manage to emulate the success of the likes of Michu and Wilfried Bony before leaving on loan for Marseille in 2016 and then permanently to Galatasaray.
Gomis made his name at Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne and then Lyon, confirming his decision when appearing as a TV pundit during coverage of the two side’s derby thus weekend.
After time in the Saudi ProLeague, a second spell at Galatasaray and most recently with Kawasaki Frontale in Japan, Gomis left the J League club last month by mutual consent.
