Giorgio Chiellini, 39, announced his decision to retire from professional football on social networking platform X on Tuesday. Chiellini was a defender for Juventus and Italy in the past.
Chiellini, who competed for Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), has announced his retirement following Saturday’s MLS Cup final defeat against Columbus Crew, 2-1.
The 117-time national team member guided Italy to the 2020 Euro championship after they defeated England on penalties in the championship game at Wembley.
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He played the most of his professional career with Juventus, where he helped the team win five Coppa Italia medals, nine straight Serie A crowns, and five domestic Supercups. Twice in the Champions League, he finished second.
“You (football) have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life,” Chiellini, who played 425 league games for Juventus, scoring 27 goals, wrote on X.
“You have been my everything. With you I have travelled a unique and unforgettable path. But now it is time to start new chapters, face new challenges and write further important and exciting pages of life.”
After spending four seasons at Livorno, where he started his professional career, Chiellini joined Juventus in 2004.
“For Juventus fans, for 17 seasons, the number 3 stood for one thing, and one thing only: Giorgio Chiellini,” Juventus wrote in a statement.
“Player, man and captain – three perspectives of Giorgio himself, who today concluded his career as a footballer.
“Everything, always, together. You were always by our side, like a superhero ready to intervene if necessary. In your case, however, there was no shield, red cloak or bat-mobile.”
Playing 561 games, Chiellini became the third player with the most appearances for the Turin-based team, behind only goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (685), who recently retired, and forward Alessandro Del Piero (705).
Before joining Los Angeles, he concluded his international career in June 2022 with the 2022 Finalissima versus Copa America champions Argentina.