Wednesday, 13th August, 2014
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has retired from international football, hanging up his boots with the France national team.
Ribery missed the 2014 World Cup with injury, but has decided not to continue plying his trade on the international stage with Les Bleus, despite the fact that France will host Euro 2016.
The 31-year-old explained he has made the choice in order to focus fully on his club career with Bayern Munich.
Ribery told German magazine Kicker: "I want to focus on my family and concentrate on my work at Bayern Munich and make way in the national team for the many young and exciting players."
The winger, who joined the Bavarians in 2007 from Marseille, believes that the time is right to stand aside to make room for France's talented next generation, claiming he knows when to stand down.
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"One has to know when to stop.
"I have experienced so much and now is the time for others to come forward. You could see at the World Cup that we should have no concerns about France's future."
Ribery retires with 81 caps for France to his name and 16 goals. The winger represented his country at two World Cups: 2006 and 2010.
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