Arsenal flop Sebastien Squillaci retires from football aged 37 after club is relegated by FOUR leagues
Veteran centre-back was plying trade at Bastia before they were sent from Ligue 1 to French fifth division for financial penalty
ARSENAL flop Sebastien Squillaci has hung up his boots - as he could not face the prospect of fifth-tier football.
The France centre-back spent three years with the Gunners following his £4million move from Sevilla in 2010.
He made 32 appearances in his first season, but figured just seven times more in the next two years before being released.
Squillaci, 37, has since been with Bastia. However he suffered a serious knee injury 13 months ago, and the Corsican club was demoted to the fifth division for financial irregularities earlier this year.
The 21-cap international announced his retirement on French TV station Canal Plus.
He said: "I signed a new contract with Bastia. But what with everything that has happened with them, I have chosen to retire."
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Squillaci previously won three Ligue 1 titles, with Monaco and twice with Lyon. He will now coach Bastia's Under-15 squad.
The defender has also played for hometown club Toulon and Corsicans Ajaccio, and won three caps for Corsica's national team alongside his career with France.
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Squillaci is best remembered at Arsenal for a torrid performance in the FA Cup against Sunderland.
The flop came off the bench early on and scored a horrific own-goal before being quickly taken back off the pitch.
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