The defenceman has opted to end a career which included 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with Detroit Red Wings.

He scored in the 2006 Olympic final in Turin as Sweden beat neighbours Finland 3-2 to win the gold medal and their first title since 1994.

In the same year he helped his country to World Championship success after a 4-0 victory over Czech Republic in Riga.

Kronwall won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008, becoming a member of the "triple gold club" as a player who has won ice hockey's three biggest prizes.

The club described him as "one of the most accomplished players in the 93-year history of the franchise" after 953 NHL appearances.

He is Detroit's fourth-highest points scorer with 432 and is ninth on the list of most appearances.

The Stockholm-born player will remain with the club as adviser to the general manager.

Other accolades include Olympic silver with Sweden at Sochi 2014 and a medal of the same colour from the 2003 World Championships.

"My best memory as a Detroit Red Wing is obviously when we all got to hoist the Stanley Cup in 2008,'' Kronwall said. 

''We're going to get back there, I just won't be a player when it happens next time.

"'They say every journey has to come to an end and my journey as a player for the Detroit Red Wings ends here.

"When one chapter ends, another starts, and I'm very excited for my new role within the Detroit Red Wings organisation."

Red Wings governor, President and chief executive Christopher Ilitch added: "I'd like to congratulate Niklas on a wonderful career and thank him for exemplifying what it means to be a Red Wing for the past 15 years.

"His impact on our organisation has been immeasurable, from his stellar on-ice play which helped us win a Stanley Cup, to the legacy he built off the ice as someone who was always proud to give back to the Detroit community."