Barthez announces retirement

PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) Former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has announced his retirement from club and international football.

''I will still have fun without football,'' Barthez told French TV channel TF1 today.

The 35-year-old Barthez, who started his professional career in 1990 at Toulouse, won the World Cup with Les Bleus in 1998 and the European championship two years later. He also kept goal for France at the World Cup this year, losing in the final to Italy.

He has been without a club since leaving Olympique Marseille at the end of last season.

Barthez won the Champions League in 1993 with Marseille before moving to Monaco in 1995.

He spent three years at Manchester United before returning to Marseille midway through the 2003/04 season.

Reuters DKS VP0047