PARIS -- Lilian Thuram, France's most capped player, announced his retirement from football on Friday at age 36, citing a heart condition that stopped him from moving to Paris Saint-Germain.
Thuram, who had 142 appearances for France and filled in for Patrick Vieira as captain during the European Championship, retired from international play after France was eliminated from the tournament without reaching the knockout round.
Thuram's last game for Les Bleus ended in a 4-1 defeat to the Netherlands on June 13, and he sat out the 2-0 loss to Italy four days later.
PSG coach Paul Le Guen was keen to sign Thuram from FC Barcelona. But at a June 27 news conference, Thuram said pre-transfer medical tests found that he has an enlarged heart.
Thuram's brother died of cardiac problems, and Thuram indicated that his mother has also had complications.
Thuram told reporters he had undergone genetic tests in July.
"I don't have that illness," he said, referring to the heart malady that has plagued his family.
"But the heart is rather thick," he added. "I am ending my career."
Thuram said he had hoped for "long years" at PSG, having signed a two-year contract.
"After talking with my mother, I understood that for her it was time I stop," he said at a news conference. It wouldn't be smart of me to make those who are dear to me suffer."
Thuram, originally from Guadaloupe, did not give details of his ailment but said it might make him refrain from physically exerting himself on the field if he were to keep playing.
"It wouldn't be very serious of me to sign with Paris SG and not come through with the results," he said. "Like most athletes, I have a rather muscled heart, but maybe with time and age it has grown."
Thuram conceded he was "sad" and that the future was a question mark.
However, he was upbeat about the possibility of joining the federal council of the French Football Federation, as FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes had proposed. He would have to be elected to the post.
"If they do me that honor, it would be with great joy," he said.
