French star retires from international football

ANKARA (AA) - Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich's French star Franck Ribery announced that he retired from international duty on Wednesday. The 31-year-old told German sports magazine Kicker that he would no longer play for Les Bleus, the French national team. Ribery said that he quitted the national team owing to personal issues. "I would like to take care of my family more, concentrate on my duty at Bayern Munich and give chance to youngsters in national team," he said. The Bayern Munich winger, who was an important part of the 2006 FIFA World Cup runners-up France, also said: "You should know when to quit. It's time for anyone else for coming to the forefront."
He stressed that he always felt honoured to play for France but it was time to make a new start.
The winner of the 2013 UEFA European Player of the Year award, Ribery has been capped 81 times for Les Bleus since his international debut in 2006.
Bayern Munich's French ace missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to back injury.