Wanderers Legend Youri Quits Game

By Mark Heys
October 30 2006

Youri Djorkaeff has announced his retirement from full time football after a spell with the American Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls.

The veteran World Cup winner made a huge impact during his time with Bolton between 2002 and 2004 and was a player who helped the club go on to acheive bigger and better things.

Many thought that he was mad to move to the Reebok Stadium in February 2002 as the club where then involved in a relegation battle but the 82 times capped French international proved to be one of, if not the, best signing that Sam Allardyce has made during his seven years as Wanderers boss.

In the 2002-2003 season he formed a useful partnership with new boys Jay-Jay Okocha and Ivan Campo and between the three of them they helped to make Bolton a more recognisable name in world football.

A huge fans favourite, Djorkaeff scored some important goals for Bolton, not least his first two for the club which came in a crunch away fixture against Charlton Athletic.

He later moved onto local rivals Blackburn Rovers after Wanderers decided not to renew his contract but his legacy still lives on at the Reebok Stadium.