Ex-Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny confirms retirement aged 36

Former Arsenal captain, Laurent Koscielny, has confirmed his retirement from professional football.

The ex-France international joined the Gunners in 2010 and spent nine years with the club, leading them to three FA Cups in the process, before joining Bordeaux.

However, his time with the Ligue 1 club ended sourly after he was accused of racism by the Bordeaux’s ultras group - UB87 - as well as goalkeeper Beniot Costil in the aftermath of their defeat to Montpellier.

The defender was previously removed from Bordeaux’s playing squad in January due to his high salary and poor performances and has now taken the decision to hang up his boots.

In a statement via Sud Ouest, it read: “As a reminder, Laurent Koscielny has not been part of the professional staff of the club since the end of January 2022, he recalls that he is still an employee of the Girondins de Bordeaux. Laurent Koscielny intends to specify that he decided to hang up the crampons when he would have preferred to help the club on the field.

“Aware that the club was in difficulty, he accepted the proposal to hold a new position and release a salary proof of his concern for the best interests of the club. In this capacity, he would like to thank the club for the trust shown to him by entrusting him with this position.

“This mission is an extension of a career that has forced respect for all his partners, coaches and staff he has met both in the club and in the French team. Laurent Koscielny also shares the club’s position, which recalled in its press release that ‘no evidence to support these allegations has been brought to the attention of the Club, which in principle intends to exercise the utmost caution’.”

Koscielny leaves the French club six points from safety in Ligue 1 with the worst goal difference in the division, but opted to remove the centre-back from the squad at the start of the year in a bid to turn around their disappointing campaign.