Legendary AC Milan and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has announced his retirement from football at the age of 41. The Scandinavian marksman – considered one of the greatest strikers of his generation and one of Sweden’s greatest ever players – made just four appearances for Milan during an injury-hit 2022-23 season.
Ibrahimovic spent months on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery, but he briefly returned for four Serie A games between February and March, starting and scoring in a 3-1 loss to Udinese on March 18. That strike made the 41-year-old the oldest player to ever score in the top flight of Italian football, but he re-entered the treatment room soon after due to hamstring and calf injuries.
Ibrahimovic’s contract at San Siro expires at the end of the month, and Milan had already confirmed that the Swede would be leaving the club for a second time once his deal ran out.
Ibrahimovic initially expressed a desire to continue playing beyond the summer, but in a tearful ceremony on the San Siro turf, he announced that he would finally be hanging up his boots.
Addressing his teammates and the crowd following their 3-1 final-day Serie A win over Hellas Verona, the striker said: “The first time we arrived at Milan you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love. 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 the whole It’s time to say goodbye to football, not you.”
Ibrahimovic’s retirement marks the end of the 41-year-old’s distinguished and often controversial career in Europe and beyond, during which he won a staggering 32 major honours.
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