The Welsh-international joined West Ham United alongside compatriot James Collins in August 2005. The defensive duo had met up at Cardiff City, where they became solid figures in the heart of the Bluebirds rearguard, before being reluctantly released by the Ninian Park outfit for an undisclosed fee.

After signing schoolboy forms at West Bromwich Albion, Gabbidon graduated through the trainee ranks to make his first-team debut in the 1-0 defeat by Ipswich Town at The Hawthorns, in March 1999.

Gabbidon went on to make 20 league appearances for Albion before being transferred to Cardiff for £175,000 in August 2000.

Within days of returning to his native Wales, the powerful defender made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Blackpool and he quickly established himself as a key figure at Ninian Park, where he went on to forge an outstanding central-defensive partnership with Collins, making 219 league and cup appearances and scoring ten goals.

He won his first full cap for Wales against the Czech Republic in March 2002 and his stature continued to grow via his subsequent selection in the PFA's 2003/04 first division team of the season.

Recognising his pace, awareness and composure, Alan Pardew pounced to secure Gabbidon's services and the cultured defender made his debut in the 3-1 win against Blackburn Rovers at the Boleyn Ground on the opening day of the 2005/06 campaign.

Certainly, he made a seamless switch to the Premiership that, ironically, climaxed with an appearance in the epic FA Cup final showdown with Liverpool back in Cardiff and he was deservedly voted Hammer of the Year.

Unfortunately, his second campaign was punctuated by injuries and his 14-match season was all over by mid-January.

But his return to fitness and form persuaded John Toshack to hand him his 35th cap as he skippered Wales - in the absence of Craig Bellamy - in their Euro 2008 qualifying defeat by Germany in September 2007.

And going into the 2007/08 campaign, Gabbidon - who had made at total of 63 league and cup appearances for the Hammers during his first two years at Upton Park - was looking to push Matthew Upson and Anton Ferdinand, along with Collins, for a regular start in central defence.