The 36-year-old Bayern Munich full-back follows fellow 1998 World Cup hero Zinedine Zidane into retirement after the Real Madrid star announced he was quitting after the World Cup this summer.

"I am following a little like Zidane who annouced his retirement just a few days ago. I have been a professional footballer for 18 years and I have decided to stop at the end of this season," Lizarazu told Canal+ television.

"My last match will be on May 13 with Bayern Munich. It's the end of a long road but also the start of a new one as I am going into television and will have a new job there."

Lizarazu started his career at Bordeaux (1984-1996) before moving to Bayern where he spent the next seven years until July 2004.

He returned to France and played at Marseille for six months before heading back to Bayern, the team he helped to five German titles and five German Cups.

He also picked up a Champions League winner's medal and Intercontinental Cup trophy in 2001.

He played 97 times for France and scored twice with the highlight of his international career coming in 1998 when the French won the World Cup followed by the Euro 2000 title.

Lizarazu quit international football after France's quarterfinal defeat to Greece at Euro 2004.