Former West Ham United and Wales midfielder Jack Collison has been forced to retire from professional football at the age of 27 due to a chronic knee problem.
Collison has played just 22 times in the last three years and decided to instead focus on his future in coaching and media.
The Watford-born central midfielder joined West Ham as a 17-year-old and made his debut in 2008 aged 19 before going on to make 121 appearances and score 14 goals for the East London side.
He dislocated his kneecap against Wigan Athletic and it is a problem that has plagued him ever since.
"The nights I wake up in pain, or the mornings where I struggle to walk, will be a constant reminder I was lucky enough to play the game I love," Collison told The Sun.
"I still wake up some mornings feeling good and think 'one more try', but that would be unfair on myself, my fellow pros and my family.
"I want to bow out with some pride intact."
Collison, who was capped 17 times by Wales, most recently played for Peterborough United in League One.
Pascal Lemesre
