Jimmy Bullard says that having to retire from the game hit him hard

Jimmy Bullard: Decided to hang up his boots after a 14-year career

Jimmy Bullard has revealed that having to retire from professional football on Monday hit him like a 'sledgehammer'.

Bullard, 33, decided to call it a day following a long-term knee problem which has blighted his career in recent years.

And after playing just three games for League One outfit MK Dons this season, Bullard decided he could not continue.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News Radio, Bullard said he knew it was the right time to hang up his boots after a 14-year career.

He said: "It all seems quite weird. It kind of hit me like a sledgehammer yesterday.

"I got a whack in my first game for MK Dons. It was a dead leg, which seemed minor, but it was a hell of a whack. The swelling went down my leg into my bad knee and then alarm bells started ringing.

"I was a bit shocked and I was getting pain with it, so I had a word with (manager) Karl (Robinson) and decided to call it a day.

"It was a massive decision made relatively easy by the state of my knee. I had a mixture of feelings.

"My heart was saying 'carry on'. I always thought I could perform at that level, but my head was saying 'no you can't Jim'."

The ex-Wigan and Fulham midfielder, who ruptured his cruciate ligaments twice in three years - with Fulham and again on his debut for Hull City in 2009, insists he has done the right thing.

He said: "If I was playing Saturday, Tuesday, it would immediately swell up and I couldn't play on the Saturday.

"I know I've done the right thing. I've had a great time and a great career."