Chelsea star Di Matteo retires

Leo Spall13 April 2012

Chelsea midfielder Roberto di Matteo has been forced to retire at the age of 31 after failing to recover from a broken leg.

The Italy international announced his decision today following a 17-month fight for fitness.

He suffered a triple fracture in a Uefa Cup game against Swiss side St Gallen in September 2000 and early indications were that he would have returned to Premiership action this season.

But today Di Matteo said: "I have worked hard to try and get back but unfortunately I am still experiencing problems and I have had to face up to the sad decision that my playing days are over. I have loved my time at Chelsea and I am glad to have played my part in bringing success to the club and the fans, who have always been great to me."

Di Matteo joined Chelsea from Lazio in July 1996 for a then club-record £4.9 million.

He scored Wembley's fastest goal after just 43 seconds in the 1997 FA Cup final win over Middlesbrough and got the only goal of the game when Chelsea won the trophy against Aston Villa three years later. He was also in the teams that won the European Cup Winners' Cup and the Coca-Cola Cup in 1998.

Club managing director Colin Hutchinson said: "This is devastating news and we feel for Roberto.

"He has worked long and hard to try and get back playing. He has endured a series of painful operations and slogged away on the training ground but cruelly the injury has beaten him."

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