Petit hangs up his boots
Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has decided to bring an end to his career after failing to recover from persistent injury problems.
The 34-year-old had trained for a few weeks with the Gunners at the end of last year but failed to regain full fitness.
“Just before Christmas I became certain that I would never get back to my physical level,” Petit announced today. “I knew it was over.”
Petit won 63 caps for France, most memorably scoring the third and last goal in the 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil, and was also a member of the squad which won Euro 2000.
He started out with Monaco but it was his move to Arsenal which kickstarted his career. Alongside Patrick Vieira, he played a prominent part in the Gunners’ double-winning season in 1997-8.
He then moved on to Barcelona before returning to London to play for Chelsea whom he left last summer.
Petit added: “I had always been lucky with injuries but in 2003 I underwent three operations in a row. I tried all I could to get back to my physical level, it was a great challenge. But from one day to another, 20 years of my life ended.
“It’s like a little death. All the images of my career came through my head and it’s hard to let it go. You must suddenly get into real life. Football players live in a bubble. From the morning until the evening our life is carried out in a military way.
“As a whole I am obviously very proud of my career. The only regret I have is to have finished it because of injuries like Marco van Basten or Glenn Hoddle. As a competitor it’s very hard to come to terms with.”
Although willing to take a year off, Petit insists he will never leave football.
“I feel thrown into the unknown,” he added. “I am interested in a few things. I now have the opportunity to travel, and make my own decisions. I think it is essential to take a year off, to think it all out and make the right decisions.
“But it is sure that I will always remain in football in some capacity.”
