Football: Zlatan Ibrahimovic says "goodbye to football" at 41

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced the end of his playing career, at the age of 41, telling AC Milan fans on Sunday night that it was "the time to say goodbye to football".

Zlatan Ibrahimovic addressing a "heart" to the Milan fans. June 04, 2023. AFP - GABRIEL BOUYS

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It's time to say goodbye to football, not just to you. There are too many emotions now, go Milan and goodbye, "he said at the microphone, on the field of the stadium of San Siro, after the victory of his partners against Hellas Verona (3-1) on the 38th and last day of the season. AC Milan, the club where he returned at the end of 2019 and which he largely contributed to bring back to the top, including the title of Italian champion in 2022, had announced Saturday a ceremony to "thank Zlatan for the wonderful moments we spent together". Due to repeated injuries, the forty-year-old has hardly been able to play this season. He returned to competition in February after undergoing surgery on his left knee in May 2022.

The Swede started just one game this season, in March, in the 3-1 win at Udinese. At the end of March, he still hoped to be able to play in Euro 2024 next year in Germany.

Zlatan in tears as he bids farewell to football. 😢💔

🎥 @SerieA_EN pic.twitter.com/tt2MWQfXaA

— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) June 4, 2023

But he then injured himself again, a calf, during a pre-game warm-up in April, and has since finished the season on the sidelines, where he was still for the last game of his career Sunday night.

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We can only thank him for everything he has done for us. And it's sad that a champion like that doesn't play football anymore," coach Stefano Pioli told Milan channel. Zlatan Ibrahimovic won his first Italian league title with Milan in 2011.

He has also played for Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, and has won numerous league titles: two in the Netherlands, five in Italy (three with Inter, two with Milan), one in Spain and four in France.

Between his time at Manchester United and his return to Milan, he wore the colors of the Los Angeles Galaxy from March 2018 to November 2019.

(

With AFP

)

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