Munich - France defender Willy Sagnol Monday announced he was quitting football after failing to recover from injury.

"Because of the pain it is no longer possible for me to play football. It's something I have to accept," the 31-year-old Bayern Munich right-back said.

Sagnol has been plagued by an Achilles tendon injury and has not played since appearing for France at Euro 2008.

"I would have liked to have continued for another couple of years but my body has made the decision," Sagnol said.

Sagnol, capped 58 times by France, made 184 appearances for Bayern since joining from AS Monaco in 2000.

Jean-Pierre Escalettes, the president of the French Football Federation, hailed Sagnol as "one of the best players" to have appeared for France.

"It is with a lot of sadness that I have learned of Willy Sagnol's decision," he said on the federation's website.

"Les Bleus lose one of their best players and certainly one of the best right full-backs in the history of French football.

"On the field, Willy Sagnol will certainly be missed, but I am already looking forward to seeing him again in the near future in the world of football, where he can share and transmit his experience.

"Football will need him in his future career."

Sagnol has no firm plans for his future but has been linked with the position of director of sport at his former club Monaco.

Meanwhile Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness confirmed Ukrainian midfielder Anatoliy Timoshchuk was set to join the German champions from Zenit St Petersburg from July 1. (dpa)