Tottenham have lost the equivalent of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, according to Brad Friedel, after Ledley King announced his retirement from professional football yesterday.

King has struggled with injury problems throughout his entire career at Spurs, and the defender admitted that the burden had become too much and he would take on a backroom role at White Hart Lane.

Daniel Levy praised the star, who was a rare one-club man at Tottenham, and fellow teammates and footballers insisted that King's retirement was a big loss to the game.

And Friedel, who played for Liverpool between 1997-2000, compared King's retirement to that of Reds legend Gerrard.

"Ledley is a terrific human being and a Spurs legend," he told Metro.

"I was at Liverpool when Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were starting out and it is the same sort of deal as when they have to leave Anfield.

"It will be a big wrench and the loss of a major personality. Ledley has been a truly great leader."

Ledley King
Ledley King's retirement is a massive loss to Tottenham, according to Brad Friedel.

Gerrard has also suffered a great deal of injury setbacks at Liverpool, but the England international is seen as just as influential off the pitch as on it, and has retained the captaincy with the Reds despite not being available on many occasions.

King will now take on an ambassadorial role with Tottenham, and will continue his work with the club's charity and youth team.

"Ledley has made a magnificent contribution to this club - as a wonderful player, captain and ambassador," Levy told the Tottenham website.

"It has been well documented how he has battled against injury over the years and it is testament to the character of the man how he managed to sustain such high standards of performance on the pitch, while providing such fine leadership.

"It is in an ambassadorial capacity that Ledley will continue, playing a crucial role in supporting the Club's work in the community and the ongoing regeneration of the Tottenham area, whilst also being a hugely positive role model for our younger players."