France and Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol confirmed
on Sunday that he was ending his playing career after failing to
recover from an Achilles tendon injury.
"Until recently, I travelled to find a specialist who would find
a solution but I have to accept the obvious, my injury will not
heal," he told French cable television Canal Plus.
"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."
The 31-year-old full back made 58 appearances for France and was
a regular in the team that reached the final of the 2006 World
Cup.
Born and football-educated in St Etienne, he won the French
title with Monaco in 2000, the German title five times and the
German Cup four times with Bayern whom he joined in 2000.