[Pat Murphy]

Canizares Likely To Retire

Santiago Canizares is likely to retire after Valencia coach Ronald Koeman told the 38-year-old goalkeeper he would never play for the club again.

"The other day I said that I was 99 percent sure that I wanted to retire at Valencia and it's most probable that my last jersey worn will be Valencia's since that's what the club has decided," Canizares said Thursday.

The former Real Madrid and Celta Vigo goalkeeper, who is in his 10th season with Valencia, last played in the team's 0-0 Champions League draw at Chelsea on Dec. 11. Canizares, who played 46 times for Spain, said Koeman sat him down Tuesday - his birthday - and told him that he was "going to count on others, and nothing else."

"He thought that I should speak with my representatives to reach an agreement about rescinding my contract, that he wasn't going to give me any explanations and that he didn't feel like discussing it," he said.

Koeman has informed Canizares, captain David Albelda and midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo that they were all surplus. Albelda and Angulo have been regulars at Valencia since 1996.

"I'm leaving (very angrily) because it isn't what I was expecting after everything," Albelda said. "I believe in a change of cycle, but I don't agree with this manner of doing it. It's been a humiliation."

Albelda added that Koeman didn't elaborate on his decision.

"Koeman told me he didn't have confidence in my leadership either on the field or in the locker room and I answered him that he's been here only 20 days and that he doesn't know me well," said Albelda, who broke into tears at one point during the news conference.

Until Wednesday's 2-1 Copa del Rey win over Real Union, Valencia had gone 641 minutes without scoring a goal in any competition, dating to Nov. 11.

Sporting director Miguel Angel Ruiz said the decision on the three players was Koeman's alone.

"No one has dismissed anybody," Ruiz said. "They are players of Valencia who have the same rights as their teammates to train."

Albelda believes he'll have to play abroad to retain his place in Spain's midfield for next year's European Championship. The 30-year-old Albelda is even more confused by the decision since he recently signed a contract extension that keeps him at Valencia through 2011.

"If you want a change of cycles the best thing is to quietly prepare it, not to go and open this polemic that they're opening," Albelda said.

Albelda, Canizares and Angulo helped Valencia to two Spanish league titles, a UEFA Cup and two Champions League final appearances.

Valencia, which finished fourth last season, is currently seventh in the league with 25 points, 13 behind leader Real Madrid.

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FOX Sports on MSN - Europe - Canizares most likely to retire

Looks like a legend will retire, stabbed in the back by a club he's been faithful to for 10 years and on his birthday of all times.