skip to main content

Makelele quits Les Bleus after final defeat

Claude Makelele came out of international retirement to play in the 2006 World Cup campaign
Claude Makelele came out of international retirement to play in the 2006 World Cup campaign

France midfielder Claude Makelele has retired from international football in the wake of the World Cup final defeat to Italy.

The Chelsea player, who quit Les Bleus in 2004 only to return to the national side a year later, announced his decision on the balcony of the Hotel Crillon in Paris where fans were greeting the defeated team.

The 33-year-old quits the day after team-mate Zinedine Zidane ended his playing career.

The future of Lilian Thuram, another who had to be persuaded back from retirement last year, and Fabien Barthez is also uncertain.

Read Next