Barthez announces his retirement

[Ebonix]

Former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has announced his retirement.

Barthez, 35, has been without a club since he left Olympique Marseille at the end of last season.

He won the World Cup with France in 1998 and the European championship in 2000 and was part of the French team that reached the 2006 World Cup final.

Barthez, who had a spell with Manchester United during his club career, made 87 international appearances for France.

As well as two spells with Marseille and his stint with United, Barthez also played for Toulouse and Monaco.

Barthez won the Champions League in 1993 with Marseille before moving to Monaco in 1995.

He spent three years at Manchester United after he joined them in the summer of 2000, before returning to Marseille midway through the 2003/04 season.

After losing the World Cup final to Italy on penalties in July, Barthez has been looking for a way back into football with his first club Toulouse.

"The only club I wanted to go to was not so happy to have me," said Barthez.

"It happens and you have to live with it.

"I needed an adventure and I have only done things that I want to."

During his career Barthez had long spells out of the game - a four-month ban for the use of recreational drugs in 1996 followed by a six-month suspension for spitting at a referee last year.

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I love the fact that family problems is the only reason he quit, nothing to do with the lack of club since last season. Thank god this douche bag is finally out of the game.

 

[Tiago_10]

Thank god this douche bag is finally out of the game.

I second that.

 

[barthez4]

Legend.

Great keeper when he was focused, unfortunately his mistakes and slip-ups kept him from being amazing. When he was in form, though, he was brilliant.

 

[Seán D]

I was always a fan of him.

 

[MaSsiVe]

a fuck-up waiting to happen. legend.

 

[Num Lock]

a douche-bag that won a lot of things a lot of players only dream of winning, even though he was with l'OM he was part of our golden generation.

allez fabien

 

[Bobby]

I liked Barthez. He's a bit of a basketcase, but still, good shot stopper.

 

[Internazionale]

I liked him too.

 

[d3adly]

was a good gk when on song, other than that....

 

[1966+2006]

he could do the hard things but sadly not the easy things like goalkicks and so on....o h well he had his moments. anyone remember that save he made in 03 season at anfield when hamann hit a long range and he palmed it onto the bar?

 

[phrase]

Amazingly he is still the most agile keeper I've ever seen.Not the tallest,not the biggest in terms of size but he is still one of the best during his peak.Won everything a player could have asked for.A Legend,he is.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Barthez was awesome. My friends and I would put a priority on watching any game with Barthez involved because we knew he would make the game exciting. High corners were our favorites.

 

[tracertong]

I shall miss Fabien , will never forget his performance against Arsenal at Highbury, Au revoir monsieur,.

 

[Da Kid]

Finnaly!I was never a fan of him!

 

[Fernandez]

I love his penalty save against Malbranque.

 

[Tom]

one of the worst keepers on his bad days, the best keeper in the world by a country mile on his good ones.

Certainly livened the game up in my opinion.

 

[d3adly]

one of his good saves:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gUiFj-eNiNE

 

[Lean]

He had his good moments. When on top form he was undeniably the best keeper in the World.

 

[coach]

The Man was (and still is) an absolute nutter, but that's what made him great. It's a shame that he can't go out playing for Toulouse. Absolute Classic.

 

[Zlatan]

Legend. :Bow: