Steve Savidan - the end of a French footballing fairy tale

It's always moving when you see a sportsman of any kind close to tears, and particularly perhaps a footballer.

Such was the case of Steve Savidan at the weekend as he announced that his playing career was at an end.

Savidan's might not be a name with which many of you are familiar, but a few months ago his story created quite a stir here in France when he made his first appearance in a jersey for the national side (you can read about it in English here).

It came during a friendly against Uruguay and was more than a dream come true for a man, most of whose career, had been spent playing in the lower ranks of French football.

His tale was the stuff of a Boy's Own annual, as against all the odds he rose from the humblest of beginnings - playing football on an amateur basis, while holding down jobs such as a dustman or barman - to become a goal-hungry attacker for a first division side and a member of the national squad.

From 1997, when he made his debut for SCO Angers, until five moves later at Angoulême CFC, nothing much seemed to be "happening" for Savidan.

But in 2004 he joined the northern French side of Valenciennes, and the fairy tale began.

During his four-year spell at the club he made 141 first team appearances and scored 61 times and in 2008 he transferred to (then) fellow first division side Caen, where he quickly continued regularly finding the back of the net.

And that's also when the national coach, Raymond Domenech, started to sit up and take notice, calling Savidan into the squad at the (for a footballer) ripe old age of 30, and bringing him off the bench and on to the pitch in a second-half substitution to earn him his first cap against Uruguay at Stade de France last November.

The game ended in a goalless draw, but that didn't detract in any way from Savidan looking deservedly pleased and proud of his achievement afterwards.

That joy of a little less than 10 months ago must seem a far cry from his feelings over this past weekend though.

Savidan had scored 16 goals for SM Caen during the 2008-2009 season, and although the club had been relegated to the second division, his career was set to continue in the top flight with a move to AS Monaco.

Except he failed a medical test with the results showing that he had a heart abnormality.

Steve Savidan announces his retirement (in French)

"There are stages in life that you have to know how to get past," he said, fighting back the tears.

"I thank my wife and my friends for everything. It's a page that's turning. I'm sorry."

The sadness was there for everyone to see as he made his announcement.

While his footballing days are now over, at least the medical abnormality was picked up ahead of time. That would probably not have been the case had he stayed put.

Moving clubs automatically means a player has to undergo a series of health tests. So while there's sadness in the tale, there's also a brighter side.

One thing is for certain though. Nobody can ever take away from Savidan that international cap he won last year.

And as for that remarkable playing career which is far from being textbook material? Well it'll surely remain an inspiration to many and stand as proof that sometimes the "beautiful game" really can make dreams come true.