Coleman won 32 caps for Wales, playing first as an international team-mate and then as one of his players when Hughes stepped up to the national job.

"Chris has been a big player for us and he was certainly missed during our last campaign," Hughes said.

"He's also been a great team-mate - he's a great character and it is a big loss for Welsh football.

"It's a big blow for the lad because he loves his football and he loves coming away with the international squads."

Coleman suffered an horrific car crash in January 2001 and for a while there were doubts whether he would even walk again.

But the 32-year-old fought back, undergoing several operations and months of physiotherapy to get himself back on the pitch.

Coleman managed to play several reserve matches for Fulham and even came on for Wales as a late substitute in the friendly victory over Germany last May.

But in consultation with doctors, Coleman finally had to admit that he would never recover to the level needed to play top-flight football regularly.