Andy Townsend, the former Republic of Ireland international midfielder, has announced his retirement as a player.

Townsend (36) made 70 appearances for the Republic with many of them as captain.

He is keen to make a move into management and make use of the experience that he gained while playing for the Republic as well as Southampton, Norwich, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and West Brom.

He left West Brom earlier this week after reaching an agreement over the final 12 months of his contract.

Albion manager Gary Megson had been keen to keep Townsend on at the First Division club and offered him a coaching role.

But Townsend turned down the chance, opting instead in pursuing his own managerial career.

Townsend said: "I thought long and hard about it but I just felt that if I am going to go down the road of management I am going to have to do things my own way."

Former Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal has been appointed successor to Frank Rijkaard as Dutch national coach.