MONTREAL (CFL.ca wire) — Receiver Sylvain Girard announced his retirement from professional football today after a successful eight years in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes.
“It’s with mixed emotions that I announce today my retirement from football,” Girard said. “It’s been a privilege for me to wear the Alouettes’ uniform and to play for my home team.”
Montreal Alouettes vice president, general manager and head coach Jim Popp said Girard’s career was a success through and through.
“Sylvain has always been a model of conditioning, discipline and hard work,” Popp said. “He has also always been in the community representing this organization with class and dignity and we know he will continue to do so for the Alouettes in the years to come.”
Following a stellar university career with the Concordia Stingers, Girard attended training camp in 1999 with the Cleveland Browns. He joined the Alouettes that year, as the team had chosen him with its first pick, fifth overall, in the 1999 CFL draft. In 103 career games, he tallied 1,975 yards and 10 touchdowns on 122 receptions. He played in four Grey Cups, winning one in 2002. He will always be remembered as one of the keystone Quebecers the Alouettes have built around on and off the field to earn the success they have throughout the province today.
