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"I'm saying goodbye", Zlatan Ibrahimovic ends his football career

"I'm saying goodbye", Zlatan Ibrahimovic ends his football career

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has announced his retirement from football, at the age of 41.

The Swedish superstar's contract expires at the end of June and it will not be renewed after an injury-plagued season, forcing him to end a remarkable and successful career.

Ibrahimovic arrived in Milan for his second spell with the club at the start of 2020, having won the Scudetto with them in 2011 and helped them win the title again last season.

"I say goodbye to football, but not you ," he said after being cheered by the San Siro crowd after Milan's 3-1 win over Hellas Verona in the season finale. "So many memories and emotions inside this stadium" , Ibrahimovic added while bursting into tears.

"The first time I came you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love. I want to thank my family and those close to me for their patience. I want to thank my second family. The players, the coach and his staff for the responsibility they gave me. I want to thank the directors for the opportunity they gave me" , concluded Ibra.

The striker began his professional career at Malmo in 1999 and left for Ajax in 2001 before embarking on a career which saw him appear with top European sides such as Juventus, Barcelona, ​​Manchester United, Internazionale and Milan. He scored 511 career goals and won league titles in four countries.

Ibrahimovic, Sweden's all-time top scorer with 62 goals in 121 games, left the national team after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.

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