The lid is locked shut on that piano he carried on his back: there are no more tunes for Teddy Sheringham to play. A foot injury means that he is not fit to take the pitch for Colchester United against Scunthorpe United tomorrow. One of football's sharpest minds has been beaten by his body at last, concluding a career that lasted a quarter of a century.

The famous old heckle about Sheringham lugging a piano on his back came courtesy of a terrace wit at Millwall, who referred to the striker's lack of pace, but almost every footballer would have welcomed a body-swap with such a maestro. Sheringham began his career as an apprentice at The Den in 1982 and blossomed into a player with a rare blend of delicate skills and physical endurance.

He broke the Premier League record for longevity in 2006 by appearing for West Ham United, aged 40. Now 42, he announced two months ago that he would retire this summer. He made 20 appearances for Colchester, scoring four goals for the Coca- Cola Championship's bottom side.

A journey through 51 England caps and more than 900 league and cup games ended with a 28-minute appearance as a substitute in last Saturday's home defeat by Stoke City in front of fans more interested in mourning the closure of Layer Road than his career.

Most players of his calibre retire in the spotlight, before their greatness becomes too distant, but Sheringham's last seasons have been a gradual walk into shadow. He did not need the money and he already had the medals, but he was driven by the desire to compete.

“When I joined Colchester at the start of the season I thought we were going places and I wanted to play a big part. To go out at the end of my career after being relegated is very disappointing,” he said. “I thought I was going to do better, I thought [the team] were going to do better. That tells me it's time to retire - when I wanted to do things I couldn't quite do it. In the Premier League last year I was still competing, so I felt I was OK to carry on. But this year has told me that it's time to hang up the boots.

“I thought I was going to be more disappointed. I don't know whether it's because it's been hard trying to compete and then getting injured. But there are other things away from football that I want to sample.”

Other ways to find a buzz, to battle, to win. “You look at things from the outside and you think, ‘That's easy, I could easily do that,'” he said. “Golf. I have a good round and think, ‘I could be a golfer.' Then I play with the top players and they hit the ball so differently and I think, - Who am I kidding?' Poker is a big thing, I've been playing a lot of poker. I want to go and play in a few tournaments round Europe and across the world.”

After working under Terry Venables, Brian Clough, Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson, among others, by osmosis alone Sheringham ought to have absorbed enough wisdom to be a success in the dugout. The idea appeals. “I'm going to be itching to get back into football at some stage,” he said. “There's every chance. I'm thinking, maybe a year or two out of the game and I'll come back into it, but when I finished playing football each year, by the end of the summer I was itching to get back into it. So it might be sooner rather than later because that's all I've ever known.

“I'd come back as a manager. I don't think there's any other role for me. I've never really wanted to be a coach type. I may have to start as a No2 or whatever, but in the end I think it would be a managerial role, if anything.”

The highlights, of course: Manchester United's 1999 Champions League victory and Euro 96. “What a fantastic summer that was,” he said. “Beating Holland the way we did, 4-1 at Wembley, scoring a couple of goals, you can't not look back and think that was the pinnacle. But we didn't win anything. You're remembered for winning - so you have to go to 1999.”

Is there really no way back, perhaps in non-League, where his son, Charlie, plays for Cambridge City? “Right this minute, definitely not,” he said. “The only thing that would tempt me is if it was somewhere in the sunshine. At the moment, the way my body's feeling, I'm quite happy to be calling it a day. It's sad, but what a wonderful experience over 25 years. Thank you to everyone who's been involved in it, but it's time for me to go.”

Vintage performer

Born in London in April, 1966

Joined Millwall in 1982

Spent season at Nottingham Forest before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 1992

Switched to Manchester United in 1997 and won the league, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999

Voted player of the year in 2000-01 by PFA and Football Writers' Association

Returned to White Hart Lane in 2001, then on to Portsmouth in 2003. After one year there headed to West Ham United for three seasons

Signed for Colchester United last summer

Won 51 caps for England, international career peaking at Euro '96

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