Zlatan Ibrahimovic Retires From Football At Age Of 41

AC Milan football star, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has officially announced his retirement at the age of 41.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic battled injuries for most of the season, but he made a special visit to the San Siro to watch AC Milan’s final Serie A game on May 4th.

Following the match, the Sweden striker whose AC Milan contract is set to expire at the end of June announced that he would not be seeking a renewal due to a season plagued by injuries.

Speaking on the pitch at full-time, , the 41-year-old expressed his gratitude, saying: “I have so many memories and lived so many emotions in here, the first time I arrived here you gave me happiness. The second time love.

“I want to thank my family, everyone close to me, for their patience. I want to thank my second family, the players. I want to thank (AC Milan head coach Stefano) Pioli and his staff for the responsibility you have given me. I want to thank the managers for the opportunity.

“But most important of all: from my heart I want to thank you fans. You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home. I will be a Milan fan for life.

“The time has come to say goodbye to football, but not to you. I have too many emotions that are passing through me. See you around, if you’re lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye”.

Ibrahimovic embarked on his second stint with AC Milan in early 2020, having previously won the Scudetto with them in 2011. He played a pivotal role in their title triumph last season as well.

His professional career commenced in 1999 at Malmo FF before moving to Ajax Amsterdam in 2001. Since then, he has represented illustrious European clubs such as Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Milan.

While serving as Sweden’s all-time leading goal scorer with 62 goals in 121 matches, Ibrahimovic retired from the national team after Euro 2016. However, he made a comeback in 2021 for their World Cup qualifying campaign, which unfortunately ended in disappointment.

Following a successful spell with the Dutch side, Ibrahimovic joined Juventus before their relegation due to a match-fixing scandal. Subsequently, he found success at Inter Milan, clinching three consecutive Serie A titles.

After a brief stint at Barcelona, Zalatan Ibrahimovic returned to Italy on loan at AC Milan. The move was eventually made permanent in 2011, and he showcased his prowess by netting 35 goals in 44 appearances during the following campaign.

KanyiDaily recalls that Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema had also announced his retirement from international football after France lost to Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals.