Due to severe knee issues, former France winger Franck Ribéry confirmed his retirement on Friday.
The Salernitana player, 39, who represented France in the World Cup final of 2006 and helped Bayern Munich win the Champions League in 2013, made the announcement in a video that was shared on social media. He also thanked his family and supporters.
Ribéry remarked, "Even through hard times, you were always there, and that's how I was able to play at a high level for almost 20 years and have this career." "You have given me the courage to experience this amazing adventure." But as of today, despite my best efforts over the last three months, my knee discomfort has only gotten worse, and the doctors are clear: I must stop playing. I must therefore put an end to my professional playing career.
Ribéry played for a number of teams, including Marseille and Fiorentina, but his most successful tenure was with Bayern Munich, where he spent 12 years and won nine Bundesliga titles, six German Cups, and the Champions League.
After he announced his retirement, Bayern made a number of social media posts honoring him as a legend. He scored 124 goals in 425 games for the team.
One included a picture of Ribéry standing in front of the trophies he won while playing for Bayern, along with the words: "One of the greatest players in our history has ended his incredible career. I appreciate everything.
Ribéry also scored 16 goals in 81 games for France. He participated in the 2006 World Cup final loss to Italy.
Ribéry played for Fiorentina for two seasons before joining Salernitana last year after leaving Bayern Munich on a free transfer in 2019.
Ribéry played frequently for Salernitana the previous season, but he only played twice this year before becoming hurt once more.
The winger's playing contract has been amicably terminated, Salernitana said, adding that Ribéry will still be employed by the team in another capacity. Before Spezia's Serie A encounter against him on Saturday, he will say goodbye to the supporters.
Ribéry will be on his staff, according to Salernitana coach Davide Nicola, and he probably will also concentrate on getting his coaching credentials.
Ribéry updated his social media account with a second tearjerker.
"I already miss it. The ball, the field, the arenas, and you spectators. However, I am aware that I will always be near to everything. in the future as well. Soccer and I. Just naturally fits together. and will always."
Ribéry's career began in 1989 when he joined his hometown team Conti Boulogne as a young player. After seven years, he left the club to join Lille, a professional team, however after three years he left Lille due to adjustment issues. Ribéry played for US Boulogne for two years beginning in 1999.
After playing for two more clubs (Alès and Brest) in the amateur leagues, Ribéry secured a transfer to Ligue 1 team Metz in 2004. After spending six months with the team, Ribéry left to join Galatasaray in Turkey in January 2005, where he won the Turkish Cup. He spent six months at Galatasaray before controversially leaving the team to join Marseille in France. Ribéry played for the team for two seasons, assisting the Marseillais in back-to-back trips to the Coupe de France final.
Ribéry joined German club Bayern Munich in 2007 for a then-club-record €25 million transfer fee. He achieved a then-club record of 24 titles with Bayern over twelve seasons, including nine Bundesliga titles (at the time a Bundesliga record), six DFB-Pokal, one UEFA Champions League, and one FIFA Club World Cup. This includes five doubles and one treble. He was included on the three-man shortlist for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or together with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo due to his performance for Bayern in the club's treble-winning 2012–13 campaign.
During his lengthy tenure at Bayern, Ribéry was particularly well-known for his successful pairing with fellow winger Arjen Robben; the two were collectively known as Robbery. [5] [6] Robben resigned from football, and he departed Bayern in the summer of 2019 to join Fiorentina in Italy.
blogpay
