Ribery Reveals Amputation Risk and Coaching Pursuit

Franck Ribery, the acclaimed former Bayern Munich winger, recently disclosed that he nearly had his leg amputated due to a severe post-surgery infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. After a knee operation during his final season at Salernitana, Ribery contracted a flesh-eating infection, which created holes in his leg and led to a 12-day hospitalization. Ribery, who retired in 2022, had an illustrious career, winning nine Bundesliga titles and a Champions League with Bayern Munich. Despite his successes, Ribery is still troubled by his third-place finish in the 2013 Ballon d'Or vote, where he lost to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Post-retirement, Ribery has pursued coaching, obtaining a UEFA B coaching license, while serving as a technical collaborator at Salernitana. This career-threatening ordeal highlights the unpredictable challenges athletes face even towards the end of their careers.