French international defender Willy Sagnol has confirmed his retirement from football after failing to recover from an achilles tendon injury he suffered at UEFA EURO 2008.

"The evidence is there - it's an injury which won't heal. Surgery is not possible. The only solution is to stop," said the 31-year-old Bayern Munich player who hadn't played at all this season.

Sagnol was part of the French team which finished runners-up to Italy at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. The right-back won five league titles with Bayern Munich, four German Cups and also a UEFA Champions League winner's medal in 2001.