The 34-year-old was clearly emotional at the start of Tuesday's press conference to announce his decision after almost 17 years in the game, although he managed to hold back the tears that marked his resignation as Test captain back in August.

He said: "I think last year's one was very emotional. I started emotional here but it almost feels like I've been released.

"I'll be missing the camaraderie and the team but I can now move on and get on with the next stage of my life."

Vaughan made his domestic debut for Yorkshire back in 1993 and was finally deemed worthy of international recognition six years later, thrown into the deep end and facing his first ball in Test cricket with England two for four in South Africa.

His impressive display in the 2002/03 Ashes series helped secure the one-day captaincy before taking Test honours shortly after.

The years that followed defined his career, culminating in the 2005 Ashes triumph over Australia in which he became the first England captain to taste victory for almost 20 years.

But he missed the 2006/07 whitewash Down Under with a knee injury before giving up the one-day captaincy following England's exit from the 2007 World Cup, and one year later the Test leadership as well.

And despite the Eccles-born batsman vowing to stake a claim for the 2009 Ashes series, it was not be be as he was overlooked for the training squad.

An omission from Yorkshire's side to face Derbyshire in their recent Twenty20 encounter also signalled his time was up as younger players rose to prominence, but Vaughan insists the time was right to step aside.

He added: "I just started to realise that there are younger players around the Yorkshire team, first and foremost, and certainly around the England team that need to be given the chance to move the game forward.

"I haven't been playing well enough, in some instances my body hasn't been reacting the way I would like it to.

"I'd like to be remembered as someone who gave my all, I don't think I've left anything out there, I have no regrets.

"It was always going to be a long shot to get me back in (the England squad), there's some excellent players.

"The likes of Ravi Bopara, the last thing they need in an Ashes series that is going to be so high-profile is someone like myself getting 100 and the media building up my chances of getting back in the team.

"It's going to be something new but, in a way, this is where my life starts. It's an exciting time for me."

Vaughan, England's most successful post-war Test captain, played a total of 82 Tests, 51 as skipper, and scored over 5,700 runs at an average of just over 41, including 18 centuries.

And managing director of England Cricket Hugh Morris hailed his achievements.

"Getting players to play to their full potential, to believe in themselves and to win Test matches in tight situations really is the art of a great captain," he said.

"And Michael has been one of the very best that's ever played for England."