Bixente Lizarazu is a living legend of French football. Over the course of nearly 20 years, the former left defender of the Tricolors played for Girondins Bordeaux, Athletic, Bayern Munich and Olympique Marseille. However, it was in the colors of the Bavarians that he played the most matches and won, among others: Champions League, six championships and five German Cups. In turn, with the French national team, he won the World Championship in 1998, the European Championship in 2000 and two Confederations Cups in 2001 and 2003.
He ended his football career with Bayern Munich after the 2005/2006 season. However, he did not play at the World Cup in Germany, in which France reached the final and lost after a series of penalties to Italy.
Bixente Lizarazu still has to play sports. He revealed why
After hanging up his boots, Lizarazu was still very active in the world of sports. On the one hand, he works as a television expert, he was also, among others, master of ceremonies during the draw for the groups of the Euro 2016 final tournament, which took place in France. On the other hand, he still practices various sports and in 2009 he became the European champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
It turns out that in the case of Bixente Lizarazu, practicing sports is not only a result of his passion and willingness. It is also the result of the disease he is struggling with. In an interview with “Tribune du Dimanche” he revealed that he struggles with muscle dysmorphia. It is a mental illness that involves a subjective, extremely negative feeling about the aesthetics of one's own body, which concerns the development of muscle mass. People who suffer from this disease constantly feel that they are not fit or muscular enough.
– I'm 54 years old and I still have to feel like an athlete. If I stop training overnight, I risk falling into depression. I have to give my all every time, make an effort and use all my energy – explained Lizarazu.