Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has quit the French national team.
Makelele follows Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu and Marcel Desailly into retirement but unlike that illustrious quartet he was not a member of the team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
The news will come as music to Brian Kerr's ears.
The tenacious midfielder was widely tipped to deputise for the suspended Patrick Vieira in France's next World Cup qualifier with the Republic of Ireland on October 9.
Makelele said: "I have done it all with the French team even if I won nothing with them.
"I don't think a player like myself can be with the national team without playing. In these conditions I give my place to (Marseille midfielder Benoit) Pedretti. I have no future with Les Bleus.
"The new youngsters need to get experience. I am not someone who does things by half."
Zaire-born Makelele, who won 35 caps with Les Bleus, denied any rift with new France coach Raymond Domenech whose team were held 0-0 by Israel in their first World Cup qualifier before beating the Faroe Islands 2-0.
"I had to make my decision understood to Raymond with whom I have always had
good relations," said Makelele.
Asked whether he would make himself available for the Republic of Ireland match, Makelele said: "No, I'm stopping. It's over. It's decided in my head."
Filed by Barry McEneaney
