Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced on Sunday that he was ending his career at 41.
In a statement to the press on the pitch of the San Siro stadium, after AC Milan’s victory against Hellas Verona (3-1) on the 38th and final day of the Italian Championship, Ibra said that “It’s time to say goodbye to football, not just to you. There are too many emotions now, go Milan and goodbye”.
“Thank you all, from tomorrow I am a free man. It has been a long career, of which I am proud. Thank you,” he added at a press conference.
AC Milan, the club to which he returned at the end of 2019 and which he largely contributed to bringing back to the top, with in particular the title of Italian champion in 2022, had announced the day before that he would not extend his contract.
Due to repeated injuries, Zlatan was practically unable to play this season.
“We can only thank him for everything he has done for us. And it’s sad that a champion like that doesn’t play football anymore,” coach Stefano Pioli commented on the Milan club channel.
Considered one of the best centre-forwards in history, the Swede has won almost everything at club level, with the exception of the Champions League.
His record includes league titles in four different countries: two in the Netherlands with Ajax Amsterdam, five in Italy (three with Inter, two with AC Milan), one in Spain with FC Barcelona and four in France with Paris SG.
He also won a Europa League with Manchester United.