He may have given away 3,200 of them but there is one Villa shirt Olof Mellberg will not be giving away - the one he wore for his final game at West Ham last weekend.

The Swedish international brought down the curtain on a seven-year Villa career at Upton Park last weekend and amazingly gave every travelling supporter a shirt as a farewell gift.

Mellberg's 254th and final appearance saw Villa secure a return to Europe in next season's Intertoto Cup and he intends keeping a memento of the match.

The 30-year-old, who will link-up with Italian outfit Juventus next season, said: "I think I'm going to keep my kit - maybe get it framed as it was my last game.

"Giving the shirts away was my idea because it's unusual for a player to know so far in advance where you're going to be playing next season.

"A lot of people have asked me for a shirt since I signed so I thought it would be a good idea for the home game, but it would have a little bit too much to buy 42,000!

"It was nice for the away fans because they have really supported us throughout the years and this season they have been fantastic as well. It doesn't matter how much it cost - it was the end of season sale!"

Mellberg continued: "But the fans are the people who are paying our salaries and if they weren't, I wouldn't have made the money I have made. So it wasn't an issue. I've always I've tried to repay their support on the pitch.

"I have tried to repay their support by always trying to give 100 per cent on the pitch and always giving my best.

"That's what fans appreciate more than anything. It was also a chance for me to say 'thank you' in a different way at my final game."