Former French international Raphael Varane joined the board of Serie A club Como after announcing his retirement from football last month, the club said on Saturday. Varane, 31, will focus on youth development, education and product innovation.
Varane’s youth development initiatives will bring together academic, leadership and vocational training to prepare young athletes for post-football life, said Como. The move onto the board for the 2018 World Cup winner follows his retirement in August because of a knee injury, just weeks after he signed with Como on a two-year deal.
Varane’s playing career was brought to an unexpected end in September as he was ruled out for the season through injury, but remained committed to staying at the club in another capacity as he told reporters: “I will stay at Como, just without using my boots and shin pads.”
By the time he retired, Varane had gained 93 caps for France, and it has been an extremely decorated club career too. With Real Madrid, he won three LaLiga titles and four Champions League trophies over a decade before moving on to Manchester United, where an FA Cup and EFL Cup have also been added in three years.
