France and Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly has confirmed he will retire from football in 2004. The former AC Milan star told France Football that he has no intention of leaving Chelsea before that date and that he’d like to win one more trophy before he hangs up his boots.
“You can write it. It’s 100% for sure. 2004 is going to be the ultimate point of my career. I will be 36 and I think it’s going to be enough then. My kids will be teenagers and I want to have time to see them becoming men.
“Everything is fine in London. I don’t mind what’s going elsewhere. I’m not interested in joining clubs like Manchester United or Real Madrid. Some years ago I wouldn’t have said no. But now I don’t want to change my life, I’m not ready to make a new start. The standard of living is something very important to me. And I feel good here,” said Desailly.
And the French captain said he’s looking forward to helping his country defend their World Cup title in Japan and South Korea in the summer. “For at least half of the squad it will be their last World Cup finals. And we are going to be motivated more than ever. We will be at our best individually and collectively,” he added.
Filed by Tom Grealis
