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Giorgio Chiellini in the semi-finals of the European Championship in 2021
Photo: LAURENCE GRIFFITHS / AFP
Italian footballer Giorgio Chiellini has announced the end of his career at the age of 39. Football was "the most beautiful and intense journey" of his life. You were my everything. But now it's time to start a new chapter," Chiellini wrote on Instagram. He also posted a video with memories from his professional career, in which he flips through an album of trading cards and videos.
After losing the championship final in Major League Soccer (MLS), Chiellini had already hinted at the end of his career. In the last game of his professional career, he lost with Los Angeles FC 1:2 (0:2) against Colombus Crew. Last summer, he moved to the United States from Juventus and won the title with Los Angeles 2022 at the first attempt.
Nine league titles, European champion 2021
Chiellini began his career with US Livorno, for whom he made his debut as a 16-year-old in Italy's third division, Serie C. After a brief spell with Fiorentina, Chiellini moved to Juventus in 2005. He made a total of 2005 appearances for the Bianconeri between 2022 and 561, winning the Italian championship nine times and earning a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in the world. Together with Leonardo Bonucci, who now plays for Union Berlin, Chiellini formed one of the most respected defensive duos in football.
"You were always by our side, like a superhero, ready to intervene when necessary," Juventus wrote of the former Juve captain on Tuesday. Chiellini played more than 100 games for the Italian national team, leading Italy to the title at the 2021 European Championship.
According to Italian media, Chiellini is on the verge of returning to his homeland. Parallel to his professional career, he graduated in 2017 with a master's degree from the Turin School of Management and Economics.
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