Ex-Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny announces retirement

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 26 March 2022

Former Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny confirms that he has officially retired from football in the wake of racism allegations from Bordeaux's Ultramarines fan group.

Former Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has confirmed that he has retired from football at the age of 36.

The France international acrimoniously departed the Gunners for Les Girondins in the summer of 2019 but was dropped from the Ligue 1 side's playing squad back in January.

Koscielny was recently forced to deny allegations of racism from Bordeaux's Ultramarines 87 fan group, and a statement released by Bordeaux to Sud-Ouest confirms that the defender has hung up his boots.

The statement read: "Laurent Koscielny was surprised, shocked but also saddened by the remarks made by one of the representatives of the Ultramarines 87 Group against him. Without there being any ambiguity, he strongly disputes these accusations which have seriously hurt him and which have repercussions on his family and those around him.

"As a reminder, Laurent Koscielny has not been part of the playing staff since the end of January 2022, but he is still an employee of Bordeaux, now occupying functions related to the representation of the club. Laurent Koscielny intends to explain why he decided to hang up his boots when he would have preferred to help the club on the pitch.

"Aware that the club was in difficulty, he accepted the proposal made to take up a new role and release his salary - proof of the concern he has for the best interests of the club.

"As such, he would like to thank the club for the confidence shown in him by entrusting him with this position. This mission is the extension of a career that has commanded the respect of all his team-mates, coaches and staff that he was worked with both at club level and with the France national team."

Koscielny made a total of 353 for Arsenal during his nine-year spell at the club, scoring 27 goals and winning three FA Cups under Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery.

The centre-back pulled on the Bordeaux shirt 65 times following his return to his native France but was unable to prevent Les Girondins from sliding down to the bottom of the table before his retirement.