On Sunday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his decision to retire from the sport. After a season marred by injuries, the 41-year-old’s Milan contract expires at the end of June and won’t be renewed, forcing him to call it quits on a great and fruitful career.
Ibrahimovic later admitted, however, in a press conference that nobody had anticipated the significant news he was about to make. He shared his last speech with Milan fans as he bowed out gracefully.
“Even my family didn’t know, because I wanted that when I announced it everyone heard it at the same time,” he said.
Over two stints at Milan, Ibrahimovic made 163 appearances and scored 93 goals. His second league championship with the Rossoneri came last year when he helped Milan win Serie A. He came back in January 2020.
The prolific striker, who scored 561 goals for club and country over his career, sobbed on the sidelines as Milan supporters waved a huge banner that read “Goodbye” and sang his name. Ibrahimovic gave fans kisses while cupping his hands in the form of a heart. After the game, there was a special ceremony held in his honour, and the Milan players and staff presented him with a guard of honour as he entered the field.
“I say goodbye to football, but not to you,” he said after being feted by the San Siro crowd following Milan’s 3-1 win over Hellas Verona in their season finale.
“I have so many memories and emotions inside this stadium,” he said. “The first time I arrived you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love.
“I want to thank my family. I want to thank my second family: the players. I want to thank the coach and his staff for the responsibility, I want to thank the directors for the opportunity. Last but not least, from my heart, I want to thank you fans.”
Ibrahimovic, who has scored 62 goals in 121 games for Sweden, left the team following the 2016 Euros but returned in 2021 for their disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored the most goals in his career with PSG, where he netted 156 times in 180 games, while also tallying 53 goals in 55 MLS appearances for the LA Galaxy. Ibrahimovic concluded his remarks in a flamboyant fashion and with a smile.
He said: “It’s too difficult, there are so many emotions going through me now. But I will say, ‘I’ll see you around if you’re lucky.’
