Barthez announces his retirement

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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 hasbeen 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 banfor the use of recreational drugs in 1996 followed by a six-month suspension forspitting at a referee last year.