Champions League winner with Barcelona
Ex-Schalker Rakitić ends his career
07.07.2025 – 3:57 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
He played in the Bundesliga and celebrated great international successes. Now Ivan Rakitić draws a line under his career as a professional footballer.
Ivan Rakitić hangs out the soccer shoes. In a personal video on Instagram, former Schalke and long -time international Croatia officially declared his career over.
In the clip Rakitić says: “Dear football, you gave me more than I would have ever dared to dream. Friends, emotions, joy and tears.” It is now time to say goodbye. “Because even if I leave you, you will never leave me. Thank you, football,” Rakitić continued.
He also spoke to his time at Schalke. In Gelsenkirchen he “grown, for the first time away from home”. He learned to face new challenges there. In addition, he “got stronger” and “opened new doors”.
Rakitić had started his career at FC Basel before moving to the “royal blue” in 2007. There he spent three and a half years and celebrated the DFB Cup victory in 2011-although he was no longer part of the squad at the time of the final. In January 2011 he had already joined FC Sevilla. Shortly before his change, Rakitić contributed to the Schalke semi -finals with a goal in the 3-2 against Nuremberg.
With FC Sevilla, he won the Europa League in 2014. Then he moved to FC Barcelona. With the Catalans, Rakitić celebrated the greatest club success of his career in 2015 – winning the Champions League. Another commitment in Seville followed from 2020, crowned again by a European League title (2023). Then Rakitić played for Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia and most recently for Hajduk Split.
The midfielder also shaped Croatia’s national team for many years. As part of a “golden generation”, he and his country 2018 in the World Cup final in Russia. He played a total of 106 caps and scored 15 goals. In 2015 he was elected footballer and athlete of the year in his home country.
According to media reports, Rakitić could be preserved in a different role – as a sports director at Hajduk Split.