South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, whose save in a penalty shoot-out against Spain helped put his team in the 2002 World Cup semi-finals, has decided to hang up his gloves after a glittering 17-year career.
Lee said that while he wished he could continue playing the time was right to call it a day.
Lee retires having earned 132 caps and representing Korea at four World Cups.
“My body will leave the football pitch, but my heart will always be there,” the 39-year-old said.
“And it’s all thanks to the love and support of my fans that I’ve been able to accomplish things that I did during my career.”
Sydney FC plan to keep Del Piero
Sydney FC want Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero next season and beyond, the Australian club announced, adding his signing was a “long-term project”.
The former Juventus great last week said he was keen to prolong his stint in Australia but talks on taking up a second year option on his contract with the Sky Blues had stalled.
“We have always viewed Alessandro Del Piero’s time here at Sydney FC as a long-term project,” Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said in a statement.
“We would like for Alessandro to remain at Sydney FC next season and we will also begin talking to him about opportunities beyond 2014.”
Chivu wants to retire at Inter
Inter’s versatile defender Cristian Chivu wants to stay at the Serie A club for the rest of his career.
The Romania international joined Inter from Roma for a reported fee of €16 million in 2007 and helped them to win league titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the Champions League in 2010.
“My future? At Inter!” the 32-year-old was quoted as saying in Romania media yesterday.
“I’m happy, really happy at Inter and the club is happy with me. I’ll finish my career here.”
Leonardo hits back in Ibra row
Paris St Germain sporting director Leonardo has accused Jean-Michel Aulas of having “an inferiority complex” as he hit back at the Lyon president’s criticism of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Sweden striker sparked controversy late in the first half of Paris SG’s 1-0 win in Sunday’s meeting between the sides when he trod on Lyon defender Dejan Lovren’s head.
Aulas accused him of doing so deliberately but Leonardo said: “Who is Aulas to judge? I do not understand, does he also work for the league’s disciplinary com-mittee?
“You could say Aulas is seeking to justify this defeat. But do you know what it shows, in my eyes? An inferiority complex.”
Juve’s Bendtner has thigh surgery
Juventus striker Nicklas Bendtner has undergone surgery on a thigh injury.
The on-loan Arsenal forward was treated in London by Arsenal consultant Ernest Schilders after suffering the injury in last week’s Coppa Italia meeting with Cagliari.
A statement on Juve’s official website confirmed that the 24-year-old has had the adductor longus tendon in his left thigh reinserted, with his prognosis and rehabilitation schedule to be verified with English doctors over the next few days.
Bendtner, who is likely to miss at least two months of the season, has been a peripheral figure since joining the Italian champions on a season-long loan last summer.
Bianchi returns for third Boca stint
Argentine coaching great Carlos Bianchi agreed to come out of retirement and return for a third spell as coach of Boca Juniors yesterday.
The 63-year-old, the only coach to win four Copa Libertadores, came back as general manager four years ago and will take the reins again as the club try to improve on sixth place after the initial league tournament of the season, well adrift of table-toppers Velez Sarsfield.
The return of the man known popularly as “The Viceroy” comes with fans having de-manded the replacement of Julio Cesar Falcioni during their weekend win over Godoy Cruz at Boca’s cauldron of a Bombonera stadium.
Houllier doubts second Henry loan
New York Red Bulls head of global soccer Gerard Houllier said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had not yet contacted him over a loan return for striker Thierry Henry.
Henry has been photographed at Arsenal’s matches this season sparking speculation he could return to the Emirates, as he did in January 2012, to keep himself fit during Major League Soccer’s off-season.
“For now, we have not had any formal request from Arsene Wenger to loan Thierry Henry,” Houllier said.
“I am not sure both parties want to have this second comeback. I think Thierry needs rest.
“He is about to become a father and I think he will want to enjoy the break.”