Brentford legend Kevin O'Connor has revealed the thought of quitting the club to extend his playing career did not bear thinking about.

The 33-year-old announced his retirement over the weekend bringing to close a 16-year professional playing career with the Bees.

O'Connor signed pro terms at Griffin Park in 1999 and made his debut in February 2000 before going on to make 501 appearances in 16 seasons in the club's colours, scoring 44 goals in the process.

His last act as a player was to score the winning penalty for the Bees in a Capital One Cup shoot-out against Dagenham and Redbridge earlier this season. 

O'Connor, who signed a player-coach deal last summer, will become the club's new development squad coach working alongside development squad manager Lee Carsley.

And the Blackburn-born former Republic of Ireland U21 international admitted that was always the path he wanted to take rather than extend his playing career elsewhere.

“I realised last summer when I signed a player-coach contract that this was the way my career was going to develop," he told the club's website.

“I have been doing more coaching as the season has gone on and I knew this would be an option. 

“I could have looked for another club and tried to remain as a player or stay here and help to build the future of Brentford. 

“There may have been clubs that would have taken me but it is not something I every really looked in to. 

“I always wanted to stay at Brentford. 

“I don’t think I could ever have played for another team. 

“When I got the offer to stay I was happy and my decision was always going to be to stay at Brentford. 

“I would love to carry on playing until I am 35 or 36 but I don’t think that would happen at Brentford. 

“I will miss playing but I am very happy with the role I have.”

New co-director of football Rasmus Ankersen paid tribute to the fans' favourite adding he felt O'Connor had a key role to play in shaping the future of the club.

"We were very keen to keep Kevin at the club," he said.

“He has made a good start to his coaching career and has a wealth of experience both of professional football and specifically Brentford to pass on. 

“Kevin is held in very high regard by everyone, he is the perfect person to inform the new coaching staff about what sort of club Brentford is if they need it. 

“But more importantly he can join forces with Lee Carsley to help the next generation of Brentford players develop. 

“Kevin has been on the journey that Brentford has taken over the past few years both as a player and a coach. 

“He understands the vision we have for the future of the club and wants to be a part of it.”