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DJORKAEFF RETIRES AFTER NY DEFEAT
CNN International
Oct 30 2006
PARIS, France -- Former France striker Youri Djorkaeff has retired
after his New York Red Bulls side were knocked out of the MLS playoffs
by D.C. United on Sunday.
A world champion on home turf in 1998 and a European champion two
years later, the 38-year-old was a hero in France for his spectacular
goals and never-say-die attitude.
Djorkaeff won his first medal in 1991 in the French Cup with Monaco
alongside future national team mate Emmanuel Petit.
Both have now called it a day, with Djorkaeff becoming the 17th of
the 1998 world champions to hang up his boots.
"Now we're back to square one," said Djorkaeff . "I don't feel
nostalgic. I've known everything and I had the feeling it was time
for me to go.
"Physically, I was still in good shape but mentally I was not there
anymore."
Djorkaeff, nicknamed the Snake, will live in New York City with his
wife and children until the end of the school year.
He said his best memory as a player was the 1998 World Cup, when
France beat Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Stade de France.
"There was something magical in that team," he said.
Djorkaeff, who has Armenian origins, scored 28 goals in 82
internationals, the most important being a superb volley from
outside the box that gave France a 2-1 win over Spain in the Euro
2000 quarterfinals.
Born in Lyon on March 9, 1968, Djorkaeff started his career in Grenoble
at the age of 16, before leaving for second-division Racing Strasbourg
in 1989.
He was then transferred to Monaco a year later, becoming the league's
top scorer in 1994 with the principality team.
In 1996, he won the European Cup Winners' Cup with Paris St Germain
before leaving for Inter Milan, where he spent three years, helping
the club win the UEFA Cup in 1998.
Before moving to the other side of the Atlantic, Djorkaeff played
for Kaiserslautern and spent over two years in the English Premier
League with Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.
CNN International
Oct 30 2006
PARIS, France -- Former France striker Youri Djorkaeff has retired
after his New York Red Bulls side were knocked out of the MLS playoffs
by D.C. United on Sunday.
A world champion on home turf in 1998 and a European champion two
years later, the 38-year-old was a hero in France for his spectacular
goals and never-say-die attitude.
Djorkaeff won his first medal in 1991 in the French Cup with Monaco
alongside future national team mate Emmanuel Petit.
Both have now called it a day, with Djorkaeff becoming the 17th of
the 1998 world champions to hang up his boots.
"Now we're back to square one," said Djorkaeff . "I don't feel
nostalgic. I've known everything and I had the feeling it was time
for me to go.
"Physically, I was still in good shape but mentally I was not there
anymore."
Djorkaeff, nicknamed the Snake, will live in New York City with his
wife and children until the end of the school year.
He said his best memory as a player was the 1998 World Cup, when
France beat Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Stade de France.
"There was something magical in that team," he said.
Djorkaeff, who has Armenian origins, scored 28 goals in 82
internationals, the most important being a superb volley from
outside the box that gave France a 2-1 win over Spain in the Euro
2000 quarterfinals.
Born in Lyon on March 9, 1968, Djorkaeff started his career in Grenoble
at the age of 16, before leaving for second-division Racing Strasbourg
in 1989.
He was then transferred to Monaco a year later, becoming the league's
top scorer in 1994 with the principality team.
In 1996, he won the European Cup Winners' Cup with Paris St Germain
before leaving for Inter Milan, where he spent three years, helping
the club win the UEFA Cup in 1998.
Before moving to the other side of the Atlantic, Djorkaeff played
for Kaiserslautern and spent over two years in the English Premier
League with Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.