Naybet hoping to bow out on a high

RABAT (Reuters) -- Nourredine Naybet, regarded as one of the best defenders in European soccer, is likely to bring an end to his international career after captaining Morocco at the African Nations Cup finals.

The 31-year-old, once chased by Manchester United, has hinted he might end his international career after the tournament in Mali and in the wake of Morocco's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals.

But if they reach the final of the Nations Cup he will move within nine games of a century of appearances for his country and may delay the retirement until reaching that milestone.

The well-travelled Naybet first competed in the 1992 finals and will be making his fourth appearance in the competition this month.

He helped Deportivo to a first ever Spanish championship in 2000 and performed well in the Champions League. He has also played in France at Nantes and with Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.

He originally made his name at Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, where he won the African Champions Cup in 1992.

 

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