Fitzgerald won the Grand National in 1996

Grand National-winning jockey Mick Fitzgerald has announced his retirement from the sport because of injury.

The 38-year-old sustained serious neck and knee ligament damage after falling from L'Ami in April's Grand National.

Fitzgerald underwent two bouts of surgery to realign three vertebrae and two discs.

"I have had to take the advice of the medical experts and they are obviously correct. I've had a great career in racing," he told the Daily Star.

Fitzgerald, who suffered a broken neck in a separate fall two years ago, won the Grand National on board Rough Quest in 1996, and also claimed the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup with See More Business.

He abandoned plans to retire just over a year ago, but after his horrific fall at the second fence in Aintree earlier this year admitted he felt fortunate to be alive.

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"I will be giving up riding with a lump in my throat because it is a game I have loved all of my life.

"But I will still be involved in the game in many capacities. After all, racing has always been in my blood."

Trainer Nicky Henderson, with whom Fitzgerald enjoyed a successful partnership, riding 762 winners - including the likes of Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Trabolgan and Cheltenham specialist Fondmort - said Fitzgerald still had plenty to offer the sport.

"His greatest attribute to us was that he wasn't just a jockey, he was a team player as far as we were concerned and a great mate. His input was enormous," said Henderson.

"He obviously was a very, very good rider, he was very strong and very good at presenting a horse at an obstacle, but there was much more to it than that.

"We've had a long association, but it was very easy as he was always 100% and the owners knew that.

"We all became friends and it was easy to work and when you think he rode 762 winners for us, which is an awful lot for one yard. That's amazing.

Fitzgerald celebrates winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup

"But he could always be here as a guide and helper and a brain. He has always had the ability to work things out and the homework he did was phenomenal."

Champion jockey Tony McCoy said Fitzgerald's retirement was "sad for racing".

"He will be very sadly missed. Over the last 12 or 14 years he been one of my best friends on and off the course," said McCoy.

"He was a brilliant jockey, good lad and a brilliant talker. It's sad but obviously after he broke his neck for the second time it was pretty obvious he would not be riding again, I think.

"He was very strong in a finish, knew his form and rode over 1,000 winners as well as plenty of Cheltenham Festival winners. His record speaks for itself."