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France and Bayern Munich legend Franck Ribery announced retirement, aged 39

talksport.com, 21 October 2022, 16:11
Former France international and Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery has announced he is retiring from football at the age of 39.

The winger played for a number of clubs across Europe throughout his career, scoring 151 goals in over 600 appearances in all competitions.

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After breaking through at Boulogne, Ribery featured for the likes of Galatasaray and Marseille before sealing a move to German giants Bayern in 2007.

He would go on to win nine Bundesliga titles during 12 seasons at the club, as well as the Champions League and Club World Cup.

Ribery departed Germany for the Serie A in 2019 when he signed for Fiorentina, before completing a switch to Salernitana last summer.

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However, Ribery has struggled with fitness over the past three seasons in Italy and has therefore decided to call it quits, having played just twice this campaign.

He took to Twitter to reveal the news, bidding farewell to what was a hugely successful career in the game.

"The ball stops. The feelings inside me do not," he said.

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"Thanks to everyone for this great adventure".

The pacy attacker represented France 81 times in his career and was a runner-up in the 2006 World Cup as Les Bleus lost 5-3 on penalties to Italy.

Ribery was also named the French Player of the Year three times and finished third behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2013 Ballon d'Or.

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