 After five seasons (1986–1991) with Metz, during which he won the 1988 French Cup and had two children, Black was forced to retire prematurely from the game due to a chronic back problem.Alex Ferguson later admitted that injury problems suffered by Black and other young players he had managed at Aberdeen were due to them playing an excessive number of games at a young age.In all, Black made 85 appearances for Metz, scoring 26 goals.