Laurent Koscielny: Ex-Arsenal Captain Retires from Football Following Shocking Allegations

• Former Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny has retired from professional football 2 months after leaving Bordeaux

• The defender quit the French club after falling out of favor and being accused of racist behaviour

• The 36-year-old had spent the last 2 months as a free agent but played 353 times for the Gunners during his prime

Former Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny has confirmed his retirement from professional football, effective immediately. The football star who has been a free agent since leaving Bordeaux in January also denied “shocking” allegations of racism from the French club.

Koscielny, 36, played 353 times for Arsenal, during which time he won the English FA Cup 3 times and the Community Shield twice. The French footballer called time on his career after a spell with Bordeaux ended on a sour note. In the latter days of his playing contract with the Ligue 1 team, he was frozen out of the team and hit with racism allegations from fans.

According to Sud Ouest, the Bordeaux ultras group accused Koscielny and his team-mate Benoit Costil of lacking leadership skills and exhibiting “scandalous” and “racist” behaviour.

Read also: Manchester United Keeper Forced into Retirement at 23

Laurent Koscielny has however use his retirement statement to dispel these claims, adding that he is surprised, shocked, and saddened by the claims.

It will be recalled that Koscielny had also left Arsenal under a dark cloud, after refusing to go on the club’s pre-season tour to force a move to France.

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