TEN YEARS after leaving Saints, Anders Svensson has finally retired from football at the age of 39.

Few outfield players can boast such longevity, but Svensson, who made almost 150 appearances for Saints and scored 13 goals, will now hang up his boots after a 22-year professional playing career.

The midfielder spent most of his career playing in his native Sweden, but was brought to England in a £700,000 deal during the same summer Saints moved into St Mary’s in 2001.

He would spend four seasons at Saints, playing fairly regularly under Gordon Strachan and appearing in the 2003 FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.

Svensson appeared mainly from the bench for Saints and when Harry Redknapp failed to keep the club in the Premier League in 2004/05, the Swede returned home at the end of his contract.

He has since played for Elfsborg where he has won two national championships and played his last game in a 4-2 home win over Falkenburg on Saturday.

Svensson retires as the highest capped Swedish international, with 148 appearances, having played in two World Cups and three European Championships.

The most iconic moment of his international career came with a sweetly struck 30-yard free-kick against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup, which can be viewed below.

Anders Svensson a solo goal during Saints' 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in January 2003.