Dimitri Payet announces retirement in emotional Vélodrome address | OneFootball

Dimitri Payet has announced his retirement, delivering an emotional message at the Vélodrome at half-time on Sunday as Marseille lost 1-2 to Lille. According to L'Équipe, the former Marseille playmaker, who turns 39 on 29 March, confirmed the end of his 20-year career.

His presence had been noted during the first half, then he stepped onto the pitchside platform to make it public at the interval.

Payet thanked family, team-mates, coaches, executives and behind-the-scenes staff, called the journey exceptional, and said one chapter was closing and another opening after becoming a professional and playing for France.

The Réunion-born attacking midfielder leaves a major mark on Ligue 1, with 492 games, 103 goals and 110 assists across Nantes, Saint-Étienne, Lille and two spells at Marseille. He also shone for West Ham in the Premier League and produced flashes for France, earning 38 caps and scoring 8 goals, including at Euro 2016. He departs without a trophy.

Having recently pushed back the idea of quitting, he said he had accepted his physical limits and the lack of the right challenges. Without a club since a premature end to his stint at Vasco de Gama in July, where he was the subject of a complaint alleging physical and psychological violence by a woman, he has returned to live in Marseille with his family. He has taken up padel, is often seen with his children, and plans to explore post-playing options with his advisers to keep contributing to football.

Source: L'Équipe