Willy Sagnol Confirms Retirement From Bayern Munich And France

Bayern Munich and France defender Willy Sagnol has confirmed reports that his career has been prematurely cut short due to injury.

The 31-year-old has not featured at all for club or country since France's 4-2 loss to Holland at Euro 2008 when the full-back suffered an Achilles tendon injury that has proven to be career-ending.

"Until recently, I have been hoping to find a specialist capable of helping me, but I have to accept the obvious - my injury will not heal," Sagnol said in a recent interview with French cable television Canal+.

"Walking is painful, moving around a pitch is even more painful. The doctors tried everything. They made a decision. The only thing to do is to stop playing."

A sombre Sagnol added, "Since April 2007, I have had several injuries, the knee and the Achilles tendon. It took a long time to take this decision. I tried everything. I had to face up to the obvious."

Sagnol, who was part of the Bayern team that won the 2001 Champions League, has 58 international caps for France and has won the Bundesliga five times since joining the club in 2000.