Franck Ribéry has immediately put an end to his professional football career, he reports on social media. The 39-year-old Frenchman has been struggling with a knee injury this season and has therefore decided that it is time to hang up his football boots. Ribery did play on behalf of Salernitana this season in the opening match in Serie A against AS Roma, but since then his knee problems have kept him sidelined. He created a furore for years, especially at Bayern Munich, where he formed the feared duo with Arjen Robben Robbery formed.
Ribéry’s final farewell comes as no surprise. At the beginning of October, among others Sky Italy and L’Equipe although the announcement of the winger’s retirement would not be long in coming. Ribéry came over from Fiorentina last summer, but has continued to struggle with knee problems since his entrance at Salernitana. Where he made 23 league games last year, sixteen of which as a starting player, he only played against Roma this season. The problems with his knee have now made him decide to end his career early. Ribéry’s contract with Salernitana ran until mid-2023. It is likely that Ribéry will serve out his contract with the Italians as an ambassador for that club.
The ball stops. The feelings inside me don’t. ? Der Ball ruht. Die Gefühle in my nicht. ? Le ballon s’arrette mais pas mes sentiments pour lui. ? Il pallone si ferma. Le emozioni dentro di me, no. ? Thanks to everyone for this great adventure. ????#FR7 #Elhamdoulillah pic.twitter.com/Ku4i1MeEbE
— Franck Ribery (@FranckRibery) October 21, 2022
In a video on social media, Ribéry shares an emotional farewell video. “Dear friends, dear fans,” he begins. “I wanted to make this short video to tell you that the time has come for me to retire from football. With you and your support it was possible to make my dream a reality. Thank you from the bottom of my heart “The fact that I was able to play football at a high level for almost twenty years and have had this career is partly because, even during difficult times, you were always there. You have given me the strength to live this incredible adventure. But today, despite “All the attempts I’ve made in the past three months, the pain in my knee has only worsened. The doctors have made it clear that I have no option but to stop playing.”
“So I have to end my career as a professional footballer,” Ribéry continues. “This is the end of a wonderful chapter in my life, but the time has come to say ‘thank you’ to everyone without whom I would not be who I am. First, my family: without you, nothing would have been possible Of course also the players and trainers with whom I have experienced unforgettable moments and reached enormous heights.” Ribéry speaks of ‘the end of his chapter as a player’, but not of the chapter as a ‘professional’. “See you soon for the start of another wonderful chapter. I love you and thank you again. See you soon,” he concludes.
Ribéry started his career in his home country with Boulogne, before wearing the shirts of Olympique Alès, Stade Brest and FC Metz. Via Galatasaray and Olympique Marseille he ended up at Bayern, where he experienced the best phase of his career. In Bavaria, Ribéry won almost everything there was to win. With the German record champion, he won the Champions League in 2013. In the same year, Bayern won the league title, the European Super Cup, the World Cup for club teams and the national cup tournament. As a result, Ribéry was named French Footballer of the Year in France. In addition, he made a total of 81 appearances for the national team, in which he scored sixteen goals.