Thuram retires due to heart condition
Friday, August 1, 2008
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France defender Lilian Thuram has retired from football at the age of 36 because of a heart defect which was shown up during a medical at Paris Saint-Germain FC.
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France defender Lilian Thuram has retired from football at the age of 36 because of a heart defect.
'Thickening in the heart'
Thuram has quit playing after being diagnosed with a heart problem during a medical with Paris Saint-Germain FC last month. He has a thickening of the walls of the heart, though not the same condition that claimed the life of his brother. "I wanted to be the Paolo Maldini of PSG but this won't be possible," said the 142-cap French international. "It is not the same illness [as my brother] but there is a thickening in the heart."
Transfer called off
The former AS Monaco FC, Parma FC and Juventus right-back or centre-back had been expected to complete a transfer from FC Barcelona to PSG until doctors detected the problem. Thuram also cited "family reasons" for deciding to hang up his boots while PSG club doctor Gérard Saillant confirmed that the Guadeloupe-born player had a chronic condition. It was anticipated that Thuram, who captained France at UEFA EURO 2008™, would sign an initial one-year contract with PSG after ending his two-season stay at Camp Nou. A 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000™ winner with Les Bleus, his only two international goals were scored in the 1998 semi-final against Croatia, overturning a 1-0 deficit.
