Veteran defender Michael Svensson has decided the time is right for him to hang up his boots and admit defeat in his attempt to recover from the knee injuries that have plagued his career for the last five years.

He will now concentrate on his coaching career which began midway through last season, following 87 appearances in all competitions including the FA Cup final in 2003 and the subsequent UEFA Cup tie against Steaua Bucharest.

“Killer” was arguably one of Gordon Strachan’s best signings, joining the club exactly seven years ago from French side Troyes for £2m.

His first serious injury came late in the 2003/4 season in the warm-up at Fratton Park, not returning to first-team action until 18 months later, by which time Saints had been relegated to the Championship. Unfortunately his return didn’t last long and he was soon back on the treatment table. His contract expired in the summer of 2007 and, with no sign of a recovery on the horizon, wasn’t renewed. Determined to prove he still had something to offer, he remained in Southampton and used the club’s facilities to try to work himself back to fitness, and a year later was offered a one-year deal and began the season as club captain.

Unfortunately, his curse was to strike again only five games into his third coming and a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Rotherham United in the Carling Cup proved to be the last game of his career.