Bayern Munich's Willy Sagnol Retires from Soccer

Bayern Munich's French Defender Willy Sagnol Retires

Willy Sagnol

Wife and Daughter of Willy Sagnol

Bayern Munich's French defender Willy Sagnol has retired from football after failing to recover from an Achilles tendon injury.

The 31-year-old French international suffered the injury at Euro 2008 and he has not played since.

It brings to an end an illustrious career which included five league titles with Bayern Munich, four German Cups and also an UEFA Champions League winner's medal in 2001.

Sagnol was also part of the French team which finished runners-up to Italy at the 2006 World Cup.

Announcing his retirement, he said: "The evidence is there - it's an injury which won't heal. Surgery is not possible. The only solution is to stop."