Candela calls it quits

Former France international defender Vincent Candela has announced his retirement.

France World Cup winner retires

Former France international defender Vincent Candela has announced his retirement. Candela, who had a spell in the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers, has brought an end to his playing career, which began in 1992 at Toulouse. The 33-year-old also played for Guingamp, Roma, Udinese, Siena and Messina and won the Serie A title with the Giallorossi in 2001. "I'm not playing anywhere this season. My time is past," Candela told L'Equipe. "It is time to call it quits. Football has changed. It's more physical, less tactical, less technical." Candela was a member of France's 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winning squads. The left-back won a total of 40 caps, his first against Turkey in 1996, and scored twice for Les Bleus.