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Former Man United star admits he wakes up in pain every day and his body is 'broken' following retirement

Home> Football> Football News> Man Utd

Published 13:31 24 May 2025 GMT+1

Former Man United star admits he wakes up in pain every day and his body is 'broken' following retirement

The former player says he only has himself to blame.

The SPORTbible Team

The SPORTbible Team

Manchester United have been lucky enough to have some great goalkeepers, but one former Red Devil is already feeling the physical effects of years of stopping shots.

The 20-time Premier League champions could rely on the likes of Edwin van der Sar, Peter Schmeichel and David de Gea to keep them in games while Sir Alex Ferguson was at the helm.

United have struggled since the Scot's departure, and things went from bad to worse for them this week as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in the UEFA Europa League final.

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As if that was not enough, one of their iconic players from Ferguson's golden years has now revealed that he has fallen on hard times too.

Fabien Barthez spent four years at Old Trafford and was also part of the France side that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

In an interview with L'Equipe, Barthez made it clear that he is already feely the physical effects of years in goal.

"When I get up, I feel like an old man," he told the French publication.

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"When you've been diving all day in every direction from age 15 to 36, you shouldn't be surprised.

"But hey, I'm not the only one.

"We are all broken."


"In my time, we weren't protected," he continued.

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"There were times I played when I really shouldn't have.

"In Monaco, I fractured my cheekbone.

"I was supposed to play again three weeks later, but they put me back on the field immediately with a protective shell.

"Now I suffer the consequences, but without regrets."

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Barthez left United in 2004, returning to former side Marseille before ending his career with Nantes.

The 53-year-old admits that he only has himself to blame after refusing to listen to doctors during his playing days.

"On one occasion, during a match, I suffered a very strong blow.

"At half-time, my thigh had doubled its size.

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"The doctor told me to stop, but I said I felt fine.

"As a result, I spent the night in the emergency room; they split my thigh in two, and I was off for two months.

"I am the one to blame."

Reporting by Jonathan Bray.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson

The SPORTbible Team
The SPORTbible Team

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