Ex-Liverpool defender who had famous bust-up with Jurgen Klopp announces retirement

Mamadou Sakho called time on his impressive playing career, which included making 80 Liverpool appearances between 2013 and 2016, before Jurgen Klopp banished him to play with the Under-23s

Mamadou Sakho has announced his retirement as a player(Image: )

Former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has confirmed his retirement from professional soccer.

The Frenchman spent three and a half years at Anfield during his playing career, representing the Reds 80 times. Signed by Brendan Rodgers in 2013, he played a key role in Liverpool's unsuccessful title push in his first season on Merseyside, but held a more peripheral position under Jurgen Klopp.

The center-back departed in 2017 after a falling out with Klopp and joined Crystal Palace. He went on to play for Montpellier and Georgian side Torpedo Kutaisi, leaving the latter in January.

Sakho played 80 times for liverpool between 2013 and 2016(Image: )

After a year without a club, Sakho confirmed on Monday that he was set to call time on his playing career, an announcement he made on the pitch before the meeting between his former clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Paris FC in the French Cup last-32 tie.

“This is an immense pleasure – to return to my garden with such an exceptional crowd,” said the 35-year-old.

“The pitch is just as beautiful as ever. I have wonderful memories here. I wanted to introduce you to my mother, because without her, my story would have been different.

Sakho earned 29 caps for France during his playing career(Image: (Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images))

“Big respect to all the mothers in the world. I want to thank everyone and officially announce my retirement.

“Thank you to the Parc des Princes and to Paris FC, without which PSG wouldn’t have been part of my journey.”

Sakho played over 200 times for PSG and also earned 29 international caps during his distinguished playing career.

The ex-defender’s time at Liverpool will evoke mixed emotions from fans. Sakho was a reliable player and, for periods, a guaranteed starter.

Sakho and Klopp during their time at Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)

However, his off-field misdemeanors ultimately contributed to his downfall at Liverpool. He was dismissed from a pre-season tour in the United States in 2016 after arriving late for a flight, a team dinner and a treatment appointment.

Sakho was demoted to the under-23s and played six times for the youth team before joining Palace in January.

“It is true that I turned up late,” Sakho said in an interview with Canal last year. “There was a rule that I should have observed. I do not at all see myself as above the rules. I respect everyone.

“I paid my fine, I was sanctioned, I apologized to my team-mates and my manager. Aside from that... I do not want to go into the controversies.”

Sakho also served a brief suspension for a doping ban in 2016, which resulted in him being unavailable for Liverpool’s 2016 Europa League final against Sevilla and missing France’s Euro 2016 campaign.

However, the ban was overturned by UEFA, and Sakho received substantial damages from the World Anti-Doping Agency.