Wade Elliott: Ex-Bournemouth, Burnley & Bristol City player retires

Wade Elliott made 42 appearances for Bristol City last season, scoring twice

Former Bournemouth, Burnley, Birmingham and Bristol City midfielder Wade Elliott has retired from playing to take up a coaching role at Ashton Gate.

The 36-year-old, who scored 80 goals in 706 appearances across a professional career that lasted 15 years, will take charge of City's under-21 side.

He captained the Robins to the League One title and Johnstone's Paint Trophy in his last season as a player.

"It wasn't a difficult decision," Elliott told the club website.

"Over the summer my mind was naturally leaning more towards the coaching job and how I would approach that."

Elliott, who only made his first appearance in professional football at the age of 21, scored the Championship play-off final-winning goal to send Burnley into the Premier League in 2009, and also earned promotion with the Cherries.

Elliott will be in charge of the under-21s from the new campaign, filling the void left by Mark O'Connor's departure to West Bromwich Albion.

"I didn't start until I was 19 or 20 years old so when I played my first game that was a dream come true," he said. "To have managed 700-odd games is something I'm really grateful for and am thankful to have had a career that was beyond my wildest expectations.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity that has come my way and am looking forward to getting stuck into that."