Eden Hazard reveals reason for retirement from football
- Hazard retired aged 32 after his contract at Real Madrid expired
- The legendary forward admits he did not enjoy football anymore
- Belgian also discussed rumours linking him with clubs in homeland
Chelsea and Belgium legend Eden Hazard has admitted that he retired from football because he no longer enjoyed playing.
The 32-year-old confirmed the end of his career in a statement last week, having been a free agent for over three months following the expiry of his Real Madrid contract.
Hazard enjoyed an incredibly successful seven-year spell at Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, making over 350 appearances for the club and scoring 110 goals. During that time, Hazard was consistently considered to be one of the best footballers win the world, and won the PFA Players' Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards, in addition to earning a spot in the FIFPRO Mens' World 11 in 2018 and 2019.
His scintillating form at Chelsea eventually convinced Real Madrid to fork out €100m (£86m) for his services in June 2019, but Hazard's career began to falter as his form and fitness rapidly declined.
Having ran down his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu - making just 76 appearances in four seasons - the Belgian decided to hang up his boots. Speaking to L'Avenir, Hazard explained his reasons for retiring, admitting that he simply did not enjoy playing football or training anymore.
”I'm not going to say difficult but it wasn't easy," Hazard said. "I had been thinking about it for a while so it helped. I have so many things to do outside of football that I was able to make a calm choice.
"I had always said that I would stop as soon as I didn't have fun on the pitch anymore. I didn't want to go and play somewhere for the money. It was the best solution. I didn't enjoy training anymore...and I wasn't playing anymore. The decision was simple.
"In life, you can't explain everything. I am at peace with myself. I'm happy. I have so many things to do outside of football that I was able to make a serene choice."
Despite opting to retire, Hazard was not without his options to continue his club career. 90min understands that the 32-year-old rejected interest from MLS and the Saudi Pro League over the summer.
When asked about rumours linking him with a move to clubs in Belgium, Hazard insisted that there were no talks between himself and any Belgian Pro League sides.
”There was nothing. I've heard a lot of nonsense but it's part of the transfer window. It was cool to see my name associated with quite a few clubs. Especially in Belgium. I never had the chance to play for a Belgian club. It could have been a great story but it didn’t happen.”
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