Rome: Former France and Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has called time on his playing career, according to the Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport. "My career as a player is officially over," the 38-year-old told the paper. Evra made his name with Nice and Monaco before Alex Ferguson signed him for Manchester United in 2006.

He would go on to make almost 300 appearances for the club, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions Leage. He moved to Juventus in 2014, winning two Serie A titles, before spells at Marseille and West Ham. He also played 81 times for France and captained them at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which became famous for the French team strike at Knysna as they were eliminated in the group stages. Evra said that he was now turning his attention fully to coaching.