After 20 professional years
After 20 professional years, Blerim Dzemaili is hanging up his football boots at the end of the season. The 37-year-old, who has been active again at his “heart club” FC Zurich since the beginning of 2021, announced the end of his career on Wednesday. The central midfielder, who played 69 international matches for Switzerland, with whom he took part in the 2006, 2014 and 2018 World Cup and the EM 2016, was in Serie A for Naples, Bologna and Parma as well as for Galatasaray, Montréal, the Bolton Wanderers and Shenzhen FC active.
Dzemaili has twice won the Italian Cup with Napoli, won the double with Galatasaray in Turkey and three league titles with Zurich, the last time after his return last summer. This is a “circle that has closed for me. It makes me really proud,” said Dzemaili. It was “like a fairy tale”. “Italy in particular has a very high priority in life,” he summed up. The titles with Naples and the subsequent celebrations in the city were “incredible” and I will never forget them.
Joaquín, Özil, Bale & Co.: These players ended their professional careers in 2023
Jonas Hector (Last club: 1. FC Köln) – End of career in summer
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On Hector’s performance data – most games for: 1. FC Köln (345 so far); highest market value: 20 million euros
Gallery as of May 17, 2023
Alessandro Diamanti (Last club: Western United) – End of career in summer
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On Diamanti’s performance data – most games for: Livorno (100); highest market value: 8 million euros
Joaquín (Last club: Real Betis) – End of career in summer
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On Joaquín’s performance data – most games for: Real Betis Sevilla (484 so far); highest market value: 28 million euros
Nils Petersen (Last club: SC Freiburg) – End of career in summer
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On Petersen’s performance data – most games for: SC Freiburg (276 so far); highest market value: 12 million euros
Mesut Özil (Last club: Basaksehir)
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On Özil’s performance data – most games for: Arsenal FC (254); highest market value: 50 million euros
Sime Vrsaljko (Last club: Olympiacos Piraeus)
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On Vrsaljko’s performance data – most games for: Atlético Madrid (100); highest market value: 25 million euros
Wesley (Last club: AA Ponte Preta)
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On Wesley’s performance data – most games for: Palmeiras (64); highest market value: 8 million euros
Blerim Dzemaili (Last club: FC Zurich)
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On Dzemaili’s performance data – most games for: FC Zurich (200 so far); highest market value: 11 million euros
Bojan Krkic (Last club: Vissel Kobe)
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On Krkic’s performance data – most games for: FC Barcelona (163); highest market value: 15 million euros
Diego Contento (Last club: SV Sandhausen)
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Regarding Contento’s performance data – most games for: Girondins Bordeaux (94); highest market value: 3 million euros
Lucas Leiva (Last club: Gremio Porto Alegre)
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On Leiva’s performance data – most games for: Liverpool FC (356); highest market value: 17 million euros
Fin Bartels (Last club: Holstein Kiel) – End of career in summer
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Bartel’s performance data – most games for: Werder Bremen (131); highest market value: 3.75 million euros
Emmanuel Adebayor (Last club: AC Semassi FC)
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On Adebayor’s performance data – most games for: Arsenal (142); highest market value: 25 million euros
Eljero Elia (Last club: ADO Den Haag)
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Regarding Elias’ performance data – most games for: Basaksehir FK (86); highest market value: 17 million euros
Fernando Llorente (Last club: SD Eibar)
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Llorente’s performance data – most games for: Athletic Bilbao (332); highest market value: 30 million euros
Florian Jungwirth (Last club: Vancouver Whitecaps)
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On Jungwirth’s performance data – most games for: San Jose Earthquakes (131); highest market value: 1.5 million euros
Konstantinos Mitroglou (Last club: Aris Saloniki)
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On Mitroglou’s performance data – most games for: Olympiacos Piraeus (186); highest market value: 12 million euros
Miranda (Last club: FC Sao Paulo)
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On Miranda’s performance data – most games for: FC Sao Paulo (238); highest market value: 22 million euros
Gareth Bale (Last club: Los Angeles FC)
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On Bale’s performance data – most games for: Real Madrid (258); highest market value: 90 million euros
Christian Fuchs (Last club: Charlotte FC)
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Fuchs’ performance data – most games for: SV Mattersburg (155); highest market value: 7.5 million euros
“After a bitter season and careful consideration, I have decided to end my journey as a professional footballer at this point,” said Dzemaili, who had to fight against relegation with last year’s champions and was repeatedly disabled by injuries. In 26 games, Dzemaili contributed five goals and one assist, making a total of 200 appearances (20 goals) for FCZ. “During all the years I was able to experience numerous successes and beautiful emotions that will stay with me forever. FC Zurich plays a huge role in my career. It is my absolute heart club and made my international career possible.”
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