Matt Murray retires from football

Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray has announced his retirement from football after failing to overcome a knee injury.

The 29-year-old has finally forced to admit defeat in his long battle to overcome the problem.

Last month Murray had briefly rejoined full training on the club's pre-season tour of Ireland, but was unable to make the final breakthrough.

His last comeback ended in disappointment in November when he lasted 20 minutes of a reserve game against Birmingham and later had further surgery.

Murray played exactly 100 games for Wolves, but the last of them came in May 2007. His final competitive action came on loan at Hereford United in November 2008, when he broke down with a ruptured patella tendon to his right knee, the injury he has struggled to come back from.

A former England under-21 international, Murray was touted as one of the country's brightest talents and would surely have been in contention for this summer's World Cup.

Given his debut by Dave Jones in August, 2002, his highlight came in the 2003 play-off final at the Millennium Stadium when he saved a penalty as Wolves went on to beat Sheffield United 3-0 to secure their place in the Premier League.

Murray said: "Up until a few weeks ago I thought I'd turned the corner.

"I'd always thought I could get back and the specialist said the same thing. So I kept going and gave it my all.

"I did everything I could, but I just don't think I can play to the level I need to play at.

"It's given me a lot of discomfort and it does affect me to the extent I was sometimes finding it difficult to walk properly after training.

"I can look at myself in the mirror and say nobody could have done any more."

Chief executive Jez Moxey said: "Matt is what I call a Wolves man - he's a great guy. Everyone at the club is devastated for him."

Manager Mick McCarthy said: "It's a sad day when anyone has to retire, even more so when it's a 29-year-old goalkeeper that in my opinion would have been one of the England regulars had he been fit."

Murray, who has been taking his coaching badges for several months, is now expected to remain at the club in some role after taking time to reflect on his decision.