Giorgio Chiellini confirms retirement from football

Legendary Juventus and Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini has confirmed his retirement from football, aged 39.

Chiellini spent the final two years of his career at MLS outfit LAFC, winning one MLS Cup in 2022 before losing the most recent cup final to Columbus Crew over the weekend. That defeat at Lower.com Field has proven to be his last game as a professional footballer, with the defender announcing his retirement in a statement on X.

"You have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life," he wrote. "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."

The defender made his breakthrough into senior football at hometown club Livorno way back in 2000/01, before earning a move to Serie A side Fiorentina in 2004/05. Thanks to his performances at left-back in his maiden Serie A campaign, Chiellini was snapped up by Juventus in the summer of 2005 and became a regular at the club following their demotion to Serie B thanks to the Calciopoli scandal.

It was when Claudio Ranieri moved Chiellini into the centre of defence during Juve's first season back in the top flight that the defender took his game to another level.

In the 17 years Chiellini spent in Turin he would go on to become a true club legend and widely recognised as one of the best defenders of his generation.

Alongside his famous 'BBC' partners Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli, the Italian won a stunning nine consecutive Serie A titles between 2011 and 2020, as well as five Coppa Italia.

On the international front, Chiellini also captained Italy to a famous Euro 2020 victory, putting in a defensive masterclass in the final victory over England at Wembley Stadium.

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