Blanc checks out at United

Manchester United FC defender Laurent Blanc has announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of the current season.

Calling time
The 37-year-old, who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and EURO 2000™ with France, will call time on his playing career after United's Premiership game against Everton FC on Sunday after 20 years of professional football.

Welcome break
"I don't know what I'll do for the moment, but I'll first of all need a break," said the seasoned defender, who played something of an auxiliary role in United's title challenge this season, which saw them overhaul Arsenal FC to reclaim the Premiership crown at the weekend.

Second title
It was only the second league crown won by Blanc, who lifted the French championship with AJ Auxerre in the 1995/96 season. He played 47 games for United in the last two seasons, scoring a solitary goal in the process.

Back to France
Blanc played his first professional game for Montpellier Hérault SC in 1983, staying with the Languedoc side until he joined SSC Napoli in 1991. However, he was to spend just one season with the Serie A side before returning to France to link up with Nîmes Olympique, AS Saint-Etienne and then Auxerre.

United move
He moved to FC Barcelona in 1996/97, spent the next two seasons with Olympique de Marseille and then returned to Italy for a two-year spell with Internazionale FC. He subsequently tried his luck in England with United in 2001.

International credentials
Blanc retired from international football back in 2000 after France's success at the finals of the UEFA European Championship. He had amassed 97 appearances for Les Bleus, and scored an impressive 16 goals.