Martin Laursen retires from football

• Knee injury forces Villa captain to hang up his boots • Laursen 'will be a huge loss to the players, manager and fans' The Aston Villa central defender Martin Laursen has retired at the age of 31. The club captain has suffered from long-standing problems with his knees and has decided to hang up his boots rather than undergo further surgery. "The retirement of the lionheart defender will be a huge loss to the players, the manager and the fans," said the club in a statement. The Danish international...