At 41 years old
Zlatan Ibrahimović has retired. “The moment has come to say goodbye to football,” announced the 41-year-old, visibly touched, over the stadium microphone on Sunday evening in Milan’s Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. The striker was bid farewell to his last club AC Milan in a small ceremony following a 3-1 win over Hellas Verona in the final Serie A matchday. Many teammates on the pitch and countless fans in the stands were crying or had tears in their eyes.
The Swede, who could not play injured, was celebrated by the Milan fans before kick-off: They showed a choreography with the words “Godbye” – a play on words for Goodbye. He was also received with “Ibrahimović, Ibrahimović” chants. The cult player reacted visibly moved and thanked the fans by making a heart with his hands in their direction. In his short speech, he later said: “I will remain a Milanista for the rest of my life.”
Hector, Özil, Bale & Co.: These players ended their professional careers in 2023
Zlatan Ibrahimović (Last club: AC Milan)
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On Ibrahimović’s performance data – most games for: Paris Saint-Germain (180); highest market value: 46 million euros
Gallery as of June 5, 2023
Jonas Hector (Last club: 1. FC Köln)
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Hector’s performance data – most games for: 1. FC Köln (347); highest market value: 20 million euros
Gallery as of June 4, 2023
Theodor Gebre Selassie (Last club: Slovan Liberec)
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On Gebre Selassie’s performance data – most games for: Werder Breme (298); highest market value: 3.5 million euros
Marek Hamsik (Last club: Trabzonspor) – End of career in summer
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On Hamsik’s performance data – most games for: SSC Napoli (520); highest market value: 40 million euros
Alexander Walke (Last club: RB Salzburg) – end of career in summer
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Walke’s performance data – most games for: Salzburg (228 so far); highest market value: 1.5 million euros
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 (487 so far); highest market value: 28 million euros
Nils Petersen (Last club: SC Freiburg)
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On Petersen’s performance data – most games for: SC Freiburg (277); 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
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
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
Domenico Criscito (Last club: Genoa CFC)
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On Criscito’s performance data – most games for: Genoa CFC (291); highest market value: 16 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)
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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
Siem de Jong (Last club: De Graafschap )
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On de Jong’s performance data – most games for: Ajax Amsterdam (277); highest market value: 10 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
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
Shortly before, there had been media reports that Ibrahimović was being courted by the Italian first division club AC Monza. The Scandinavian had recently left open whether and where he would continue his career. Late on Sunday evening, however, he made it clear: “Today was my last day as a professional soccer player.” During his career, the right-footed player played for , , den , and . A total of 169.1 million euros was put on the table when he switched clubs, only nine footballers had higher transfer earnings.
Due to various injuries, Ibrahimovic has only appeared in four league games this season, including three as a substitute, and scored just one goal. After a long absence due to a knee operation last year, the veteran struggled first with a thigh injury and most recently with a calf injury. After returning to Milan in January 2020, he was instrumental in Milan’s upward trend, which was crowned with the league title last season.
Milan also ended this season with a win. Olivier Giroud scored the lead against Hellas with a penalty kick (45+2). After Davide Faraoni (72′) equalized in the meantime, Rafael Leão (85’/90’+2′) secured the win with a brace and was applauded by Ibrahimović. Behind champions SSC Naples, Lazio Rome and Inter Milan, Milan finished fourth in the final table and will therefore play in the Champions League again in autumn.
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