Former Juventus and Italy defender, Giorgio Chiellini, has announced his retirement from football. He made his decision public during an interview with Sky Sport.
Speaking with a sense of calmness and satisfaction, Chiellini reminisced on his illustrious career. He played his last game just three days ago, marking the end of years of memorable football.
Chiellini stated, “I have enjoyed my playing time right up until the end.” He considered his later playing years, from 31-32 onwards, to be enjoyable, even more so than his early football years. This reflects his enduring passion for the game, a characteristic he recalls from his childhood.
He also singled out wearing the blue ‘maglia azzurra’ as the highlights of his career, with an emphasis on his leadership role in guiding Italy to win the European Championship. After a career-threatening knee injury in 2019, leading his team as the Captain to such a prestigious victory was quite emotional. He described the experience as “incredible.”
Chiellini enjoyed a decorated career and through his retirement, football loses a standout defender and devoted player. His passion, resilience, and leadership will be missed on the fields of Italian and European football.