Steed Malbranque retires to take care of his son.

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The former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur star signed for the French outfit from Sunderland on a two-year deal earlier this summer, but has now decided to call time on his playing career.

Malbranque made just one appearance as a substitute for St Etienne and was left out of the squad by coach Christophe Galtier for the league game against Sochaux last weekend.

According to reports in France, the 31-year-old player has decided to hang up his boots in order to care for his son, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Malbranque was born in the Belgian city of Mouscron, but held French nationality and represented his country at under-21 level

He started his club career at Lyon before switching to the Premier League with Fulham, where he scored ten goals in his first season and became a fans' favourite.

The skilful midfielder crossed London to join Tottenham in 2006 and moved on to Sunderland two years later.

He made more than 100 appearances for the Black Cats before being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Steve Bruce and deciding to return to France..

Hope his son recovers. Good footballer, not the quickest but a good footballing brain. Wish him all the best.

Sad news and I wish him all the best.

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Steed Malbranque's representatives have dismissed reports the former Fulham, Tottenham and Sunderland midfielder has retired from football to care for an ill family member.

Reports emerging from France over the weekend, and repeated in a number of British publications, claimed that the 31-year-old, who joined French outfit St Etienne this summer, had decided to quit as his young son was suffering from cancer.

But in a statement released to Press Association Sport by solicitors working on the instruction of Malbranque's agent, Sebastien Boisseau, it is made clear that the Frenchman does not have a son and that no member of his immediate family is in ill health. "Steed has read with concern the recent stories currently circulating about him and his family," read the statement which as issued by London-based solicitors Thomas Cooper.

"He would like to reassure all of his friends in England and throughout world football that these stories are wholly without foundation.

"Steed does not have a son and his immediate family are all in good health. Steed does not know the origin of these stories but would like to stress that they are without merit.

"He trusts that they will now cease immediately."

Malbranque's switch to St Etienne last month ended a 10-year stay in English football, during which time he made a total of 336 Premier League appearances.

After impressing at Lyon following his debut for the club in 1998, Malbranque secured a move to Fulham in 2001 and went on to make over 200 appearances for the west London club.

Malbranque transferred to Tottenham in the summer of 2006, going on to make over 60 appearances, before joining Sunderland in 2008.

Canny sick who ever made this up.

I know this isn't the main issue here, but you would have thought a bit of basic research would have been done on the story (like, I don't know, checking if he even has a child!) before it went to print...

True because I didnt think he had kids but everywhere i looked said he had kids. Now they are saying he doesn't

well that's fucking weird. Atleast if he doesnt have a son then it's not as sick as if he did, because starting a story like that would be terrible for the family. What the fuck though, don't understand how any of this makes sense. Would atleast make sense if he had a son and some cunt with a grudge wanted to cause upset to his family. But just completely random? Too tired to work it out lol