Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams has paid tribute to former Rovers and Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz after he announced his retirement this week.

"He was very professional in two stints with us, of course," Williams told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"I remember Stephane when he first joined us as a young man from Switzerland. It was Roy Hodgson's first signing, he came to us with Martin Dahlin.

"It was a real baptism of fire for him in the Premier League, but he stood up to the test.

"Eventually, when we got relegated, it reached a point for Stephane where he needed to move on and he had plenty of success with Liverpool.

"Mark Hughes brought him back, under different requirements and different times.

"He was a great lad to have around - he always gave 100 per cent and we wish him all the best for the future."