Frustrated Roche forced to retire

Former French international centre-back Alain Roche has retired from football after losing his battle against a serious ankle injury.

Surgery failed
The 34-year-old FC Girondins de Bordeaux player, who won 25 caps for his country, underwent surgery in an attempt to remedy the problem, but doctors said there was nothing they could do to prolong his 17-year career. However, Roche will remain at the Chaban-Delmas stadium in a non-playing capacity.

Tough decision
"I had contemplated the decision for several weeks," said Roche today. "It was not an easy thing to do, and I feel very frustrated because I was forced to retire." However, Roche is upbeat when considering his new career, saying: "Now it's another life and another job that begins."

Plenty of experience
Roche is to work in a public relations role for Bordeaux and also act as an adviser on foreign players for the French Ligue 1 club. The player has plenty of experience to pass on having played for Olympique de Marseille, AJ Auxerre, Paris Saint-Germain FC and Valencia CF, before returning to Bordeaux, the club where he started in football, for his final two seasons.

Many honours
Roche was a part of the PSG team which won the UEFA Cup in 1995/96. He also won the French league title three times, the French Cup five times. In Spain, he helped Valencia lift the Copa del Rey.