EX-WANDERERS striker Ivan Klasnic has been awarded just over £3.6million in damages after a decade-long legal battle against his former club, Werder Bremen.

The 40-year-old, who spent nearly three years with Bolton in the Premier League, has successfully sued medical staff in Germany for serious kidney damage he sustained earlier in his career.

Klasnic had undergone two kidney transplants prior to his arrival at Wanderers in September 2009, where he became Gary Megson’s final signing.

He had a third after falling seriously ill in 2016, cancelling a trip to see Bolton the following year at the last moment when a donor was found.

It was argued by Klasnic’s legal team that painkillers used by the Bundesliga club’s doctors contributed to damage to his kidneys, which ultimately shortened his career.

After leaving Bolton, the Croatia international had a short spell in Germany with FSV Mainz but he was able to make just three senior appearances before finally retiring in 2013.

Klasnic had previously been awarded around £90,000 in damages before his legal team took the case to a higher court. And speaking after his success in the case, the player’s lawyer, Matthias Teichner said the outcome was a just one.

“No money in the world can make up for the considerable and permanent damage to my client's health [but this is] more suitable to create a feeling of justice.

"At least the doctors were now ready to express their regret about the incidents. In my opinion, this was long overdue."

Klasnic became a cult hero at Wanderers, where he scored 24 times in 93 appearances, after initially joining on loan from French club Nantes.

He had been part of the Croatia squad at Euro 2004 and 2008 and also featured for his country in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup finals.

Owen Coyle signed him on a permanent basis at Bolton in the summer of 2010 but despite possessing some of the sharpest finishing skills of anyone in the squad, he was rarely considered a regular starter.

Just 27 of his 62 appearances under Coyle came as a starter and he left following relegation in 2012.