AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic has announced he is retiring from football at the age of 41, ending one of the modern era’s most glittering careers.
“I say goodbye to football but not to you,” the Swede told the San Siro crowd after Sunday’s last game of the season.
Ibrahimovic had already told the Italian club that he would be leaving.
He got 511 goals for teams like Paris St. Germain, Manchester United, and both AC and Inter Milan. He won league titles in four countries.
Ibrahimovic started his second time with AC Milan in early 2020. He won the Scudetto with them in 2011 and helped them win it again last season.
But because of a string of injuries, he only played four times and started one game for the Serie A team this season. He got one goal, but his contract was set to end this month.
“There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye,” an emotional Ibrahimovic said, holding back tears.
“The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love.
“You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life.”