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Desially Announces Retirement

The retirement wave continues with Marcel Desially, the former France captain, announces his intention to retire from playing football. Marcel Desially is 37 years old and considered a France legend. He won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000 and had an amazing international career. Desially`s career brought him a France record 116 caps. His club career was hardly less spectacular, including consecutive UEFA Champions League triumphs with Olympique de Marseille in 1992/93 and AC Milan the following year.

"I wanted to keep playing and had a proposal to join my friend Youri Djorkaeff [at New York Red Bulls] or to play in Australia, but it is not easy for me to move my family," he said. Desailly has been without a club since leaving Qatar Sports Club last November.

His decision comes a week after former France colleague and World Cup-winner Bixente Lizarazu made a similar announcement, while Zin?dine Zidane will also stop playing at the end of the present season.