Veteran English referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from professional officiating, bringing to an end a distinguished 20-year career that saw him oversee 831 matches.

The 47-year-old Manchester official officiated 668 domestic professional games, including every major domestic cup final in England.

Taylor was promoted to the Premier League refereeing panel in 2010 and went on to officiate at four major international tournaments the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, as well as the UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 championships.

In total, he handled 163 international fixtures, with his final match being the FIFA World Cup round of 16 encounter between Portugal and Spain earlier this month.

Announcing his retirement on the official England Football website, Taylor described officiating at the highest level as a privilege despite the demands of the role.

“Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant,” he said.

“The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to my two assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, my refereeing colleagues and everyone connected with the game for all their support over the years.

“Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded.”