BBC SPORT | Football | Kanchelskis calls time on career

The 38-year-old, who also played for Everton, Rangers, Manchester City and Southampton, won two Premiership titles and an FA Cup while at Old Trafford.

"You need to leave at the right time," said Kanchelskis, who won 36 caps for Russia, after Krylia Sovetov released him and he failed to find a new club.

"Now seems a suitable moment to begin a new chapter in my footballing life," he told Russian newspaper Sport Express.

Despite being born in Ukraine, where he started his career with Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk, Kanchelskis opted to play for Russia following the fall of the Soviet Union.

He moved to Old Trafford in March 1991 in a £650,000 deal and scored 36 goals in 162 appearances before a £5m move to Everton in 1995, where he scored 16 times in his first season.

Two more big-money moves followed in 1997 when he joined Italian side Fiorentina for £8m, before returning to Britain with Rangers in a £5.5m move in 1998.

While at the Ibrox club he added to his tally of silverware with a role in their domestic treble in 1999 and a subsequent League and Cup double the following season.

After short spells at City and Saints and in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal, Kanchelskis spent the twilight of his career in his homeland with Saturn Moscow and Krylia Sovetov.

Initially he was keen to prolong his playing days after a superb season with the Samara club.

"I have enough desire and energy to continue," he had said.

"I played 22 games for Krilya Sovetov last year, I feel no tiredness at all and I think I did well.

"I'm sure I'll find a new team very soon, I have no doubts.

"I have a couple of offers from abroad but, to be honest, I would prefer to play in a Russian club."

However, he has now decided to hang up his boots.