#2 Willy Sagnol ~ Set for retirement?

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Dragoen

I doubt that the bayern board would have sold them both because it would be hard to replace them both. It is hard enough to replace one of them.

Lahm will leave regardless, it's a matter of when.

And I think the Bayern board is aware that if we don't sell Sagnol this summer, we won't get anything for him in the future, should we decide to let him go.

[__-SNAKE-__]

Originally Posted by Dragoen

Bad news because it means that Lahm will leave.

You should take it as good news, othewise we would have taken Clemens Fritz

[Dragoen]

No you would have taken Rafinha. *hopefully*

[Munchen Minded]

I am super glad Willy is staying, he is one of my all time Bayern favorites. EVen with my own criticism of him this season, he is an asset and will be hugely important next season in the CL. WIth him, Gattuso, MvB, Lucio and Demichelis -- we will have a super strong defensive group for the CL and one that has alot of international experience. We will need this is we have Rensing between the sticks as #1. I agree with Willy that Hitzfeld was some of the problem, but Willy should have given more. Maybe under Klinsmann it will be different. Him at RWB and Jansen at LWB. Lell is still young and doesn't have the top level experience yet for the CL, so he can sub either right or left. Anyway, this is excellent news. And I am happy to see Lahm move on, as his attitude had changed over the last several months -- I am really surprised that he didn't want to stay under Klinsmann. But now we can sell him and get some good money.

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Sagnol Issues Parting Shot At Hitzfeld

Bayern Munich defender Willy Sagnol has criticised Ottmar Hitzfeld in a parting shot against his former manager.

Sagnol said that he has not forgotten how the outgoing Hitzfeld treated him throughout the past campaign, which saw Bayern Munich regain the Bundesliga title.

The Frenchman was rarely in Hitzfeld’s plans at Bayern making just nine appearances in the Bundesliga and five during the Uefa Cup, a competition that his side reached the semi-finals in.

On top of the sparse appearances, Sagnol, when selected, was mainly used in the right of midfield, a position he claims to hate playing in.

The St-Etienne-born defender has said that he is relieved Hitzfeld’s departure from the Allianz Arena and ironically went on to dub his next team, Switzerland, as a ‘great squad'.

“Everything is fine with Bayern,” he told Setanta Sports from Tignes, where he is training with France ahead of the European Championships.

“From now on it is over, he has gone, after having managed a big club he takes over a great squad [smiles].”

Despite his overall lack of action this term, Sagnol was still selected by international manager Raymond Domenech in France’s provisional squad for Euro 2008, surprisingly chosen ahead of Arsenal star Bacary Sagna – who was voted as the best right-back in the Premier League’s PFA team of the year.

Goal.com - France - Sagnol Issues Parting Shot At Hitzfeld

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Frenchman aiming high
Sagnol: I want to recapture my best form

Newly-wed with a child in the offing, and with France’s early exit from Euro 2008 a rapidly fading memory, Willy Sagnol has started his ninth season at Bayern on a surge of energy and optimism. The longest-serving player at the club is arguably more motivated than ever before, as Sagnol is raring to go after finally emerging from a spell blighted by injury . “I want to get back to the level I had before,” he declared on Friday.

After a two-and-a-half week vacation in the south of France where he took time out to marry his long-term partner, the 31-year-old said he was “feeling very good. I’m delighted to be back on the practice ground again.” He is not wasting any more time contemplating his country’s pitiful showing at Euro 2008. “The European championships are history for me,” he firmly stated.

End to international career?

Sagnol revealed he is considering whether the time has come to call time on his international career, an option he had discussed with controversial France coach Raymond Domenech. “He told me it would be a shame if I stopped now.” However, the man capped 58 times by the 1998 World Cup winners is keeping an open mind. “I simply haven’t decided yet.”

The right-back is totally focused on his duties with Bayern. The Bundesliga title – Willy already has five German championships to his name – was the “minimum” FCB should be hoping to achieve, he said, although a personal goal is equally important to the player this season. Sagnol is utterly determined to bounce back from a torrid 2007-8 and restate his top-class credentials.

Battle for places

“I was sidelined for ten months with injury, and then the situation in March, April and May wasn’t easy for me,” the 31-year-old recalled. A cartilage injury in April 2007 prompted the long and tiresome lay-off, after which he was unable to command a regular place in Ottmar Hitzfeld’s starting line-up. Just as he seemed poised to recover full fitness, he suffered a slipped disc in March and was forced back to the sidelines.

All that is now behind him. “I’ll work hard every day,” he announced. The right-back is fully aware of the intense internal competition for his place, where Philipp Lahm and Christian Lell are both jockeying for position. “Each of us has to give it his best shot. The coach decides who plays,” Sagnol acknowledged.

Everything for FCB

That also applies to the nomination of a new club captain. “I’d be delighted to take the armband, but it’s the coach’s decision,” commented Sagnol, who will in any case assume a powerful position in the dressing room hierarchy as the club’s longest-serving player. “After eight years at a club, you’ve got to be sharing your experience,” he observed, making it clear he would do exactly that: “My heart belongs to Bayern,” he declared.

Sagnol: I want to recapture my best form

[RunX]

BullShit !! He injured again
We are waiting and waiting but he is just not improven and not back to his old form.
Bayern must sell him !!

[RunX]

Sagnol Facing Achilles Op

Bayern Munich full-back Willy Sagnol is in line for yet another lay-off after suffering an injury to his Achilles tendon yesterday...

The France veteran has battled with injuries over the past two seasons and has also battled to get into the Bayern side when fit, as former coach Ottmar Hitzfeld preferred Philipp Lahm and Marcell Jansen in either full-back position.

He has vowed to play on at the Allianz Arena under new boss Juergen Klinsmann, but now faces yet another setback after the injury discovered yesterday after training.

Sagnol missed much of last season with a hernia and, despite an alleged promise made when he signed a contract extension two years ago that he would succeed the recently retired Oliver Kahn as captain, the injury may well see Mark van Bommel take the armband.

He nevertheless played a part in France's unsuccessful Euro 2008 campaign this summer.

Goal.com - Bayern Munich - Sagnol Facing Achilles Op

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Long lay-off for Sagnol after Achilles op

Willy Sagnol’s miserable run with injury has continued after the Bayern and France right-back was forced to undergo surgery on Monday evening to repair a damaged Achilles tendon. Even if the player’s recovery proceeds without a hitch, he is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

A thorough examination by the club medical unit found that Willy’s current bout of Achilles trouble may well be caused by a pre-existing condition. Following the diagnosis, the decision was swiftly taken to engage Dr. Ludwig Seebauer of Bogenhausen hospital to operate immediately.

Injury misery

The latest serious injury is a major setback for Sagnol. The Frenchman sustained cartilage damage in his right knee last April and was unable to train for almost eight months. He resumed the squad programme after Christmas this year, but a slipped disc forced him to the sidelines again in March.

Just a few weeks ago, the 31-year-old told reporters he was determined “to recapture my best form,“ but the Achilles problem means his plans will yet again be put on ice for the time being.

Long lay-off for Sagnol after Achilles op

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I feel sorry for him. This pratically means his career is over.

[RunX]

Sagnol Admits Early Retirement Fears

Bayern Munich and France defender Willy Sagnol says there is a very real possibility that he has already played his last competitive matchs.

The 31-year-old, who has not featured at all for club or country since France's 4-2 loss to Holland at Euro 2008, cast a solemn figure during a recent interview with TF1 television, during which time he announced that he would be calling it a career if he isn't completely recovered by May.

"I came back in pre-season full of desire, but during the preparation, I had a problem with my Achilles tendon," he explained.

"I had to have an operation, which means my recovery will be longer than predicted.

"The hardest thing is not knowing when I could play again. My priority is to find out if I can play football again or not.

"If things have not been resolved by May, my retirement will be certain."

Goal.com - Bayern Munich - Sagnol Admits Early Retirement Fears

[Tomori]

Sagnol is still alive? I haven't heard any news form him in ages.

[__-SNAKE-__]

I feel sorry for Willy, I would have loved to see him play again on the right back. I think we missed him and his crosses this year.

[Trim]

Originally Posted by __-SNAKE-__

I feel sorry for Willy, I would have loved to see him play again on the right back. I think we missed him and his crosses this year.

I don't agree. The last matches that Willy played (that I remember), he was like a tractor, and his crosses definately were not on level.

It's best for him to retire. He has nothing left to give, sadly.