Jonjo Shelvey retires from football and immediately takes manager job

Former Liverpool, Newcastle and England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has retired from professional football - and has immediately taken his first job in management.

Shelvey joined Arabian Falcons, who play in the third-tier of football in the United Arab Emirates, in the summer following a short spell with Burnley.

He made four appearances for the Clarets, with his last match in English football seeing him play 58 minutes in a 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Preston North End.

Shelvey subsequently suffered an injury and was released by Burnley at the end of the season.

He spent time on trial at Championship side Hull City but manager Sergej Jakirovic publicly announced that the club had decided not to sign him.

Shelvey told the BBC that he wasn't playing in Dubai for the money, citing that the 'ballpark of the standard wage' for a footballer in the Gulf nation is £2,000-a-month.

Arabian Falcons is co-owned by former Crystal Palace and Southampton star Jason Puncheon, while Ravel Morrison is among the playing staff.

Now, after eight appearances for his new club, Shelvey has retired from professional football to become Arabian Falcons manager on a full-time basis.

The Falcons sit in third place in the UAE Second Division and can still earn promotion to the second tier this season.

"I'm excited to take on this challenge and lead the Falcons forward," Shelvey said in a statement.

"We have a talented group and a clear vision to achieve promotion and build something special in Dubai.

"My ambition is to climb to the very top of management and this is the perfect project to prove myself and what I'm capable of."

He told BBC in October that he was working towards gaining his UEFA A Licence, the second-highest coaching badge beneath the Pro Licence.

To take charge of a Premier League club, a manager must 'hold, or have commenced and be activity engaged on the requisite course to obtain a valid UEFA Pro Licence', as per the league's official regulations.