Andy Barron, the New Zealand investment banker who was the only amateur player to take the field at the World Cup, has retired from all football.

Midfielder Barron played the last four minutes of New Zealand's 1-1 draw with Italy, receiving international attention as an odd man out among the world's highest-paid footballers.

Barron, 30, said he had always intended to retire after the World Cup and to concentrate on his full-time banking job. His retirement was from all levels of football, including weekly matches for the amateur Petone club on a muddy field in suburban Wellington.

Barron said he always taken vacation to play for New Zealand and owed it to his employers to concentrate on his career.

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