Former Turkey international Ilhan Mansiz has been forced to scrap plans for a comeback and has retired at the age of 31.
Ilhan was among the stars of the 2002 World Cup in the Far East and was a key figure in Turkey's march to the semi-finals.
He scored three goals in the tournament, including the winner against Senegal in the quarter-finals.
But his career stagnated in recent seasons, with injuries forcing him to leave Japanese club Vissel Kobe, who he joined in January 2004.
The forward then signed for Hertha Berlin, but a knee problem prevented him from playing a senior game for the German club.
A move to Ankaragucu merely provided more injury woe, and Ilhan has now decided to quit professional football after several failed knee operations.
"The first operation I had went wrong - because of that operation I had three more," Ilhan told Zaman newspaper.
"I had a car crash when I was recuperating in Germany, which harmed my knee again.
"I tried so hard in the United States and Germany to return to the pitch, but Bayern Munich doctor Hans Wohlfahrt advised me to stop."
