Foxes star Elliott forced to quit

Defender Elliott has made a total of 719 career appearances

Leicester City have confirmed that defender Matt Elliott has been forced to retire from football.

The former Scotland centre-back has been struggling with a knee injury all season and has played only three games.

The 36-year-old was signed for Leicester from Oxford by Martin O'Neill in 1997 for £1.6m and has gone on to play nearly 300 matches for the club.

Elliott said: "It is with great sadness that I have had to hang up my boots on medical grounds."

He won 18 caps for Scotland but, despite knee surgery in the summer, he last kicked a ball in anger in October.

He added: "I have been desperate to play this season and do my bit in helping Leicester to return to the Premiership.

"But unfortunately I've been advised my knee will not stand up to playing professional football and I've reluctantly had to listen to their advice.

"I plan to take a bit of time off and then undertake my coaching badges."