Birmingham City defender David Murphy has announced his retirement from professional football with immediate effect.

Murphy, who turned 30 last week, has experienced an injury-plagued career and retires from the game having suffered a recurring knee problem.

The left-back was popular with fans at St Andrew’s for his attacking flair which saw him score some memorable and important goals for the club.

Murphy joined Birmingham in 2008 when Alex McLeish signed him from Hibernian for £1.5 million and has since gone on to make 132 appearances for the club, but only featuring six times this season.

The 30-year-old missed the entirety of the 2009/10 season after suffering a broken kneecap in the latter stages of the previous campaign. He was an unused substitute in the 2011 Carling Cup final, where Birmingham triumphed over Arsenal 2-1, but featured in the earlier rounds of the competition.

His most memorable Blues goals came away at Club Brugge in the Europa League and in an FA Cup tie at Stamford Bridge where he put Birmingham ahead against Chelsea.

He told bcfc.com: ““All of my rehabilitation went as well as it could have done and I managed to return to playing for a brief spell.

“However, I wasn’t able to sustain the heights of my previous form and as a result I have no option but to retire.

“Having sought advice from the surgeon and medical staff at the football club, I had to make sure in my own mind that I was ready to retire. I have reached that decision and will look forward to the next chapter in my life.”

By Shane Ireland (Proud to be a Bluenose)