Former West Ham, Liverpool, and Barcelona player Javier Mascherano has pulled the plug on his professional football career after announcing his retirement from the game at the age of 36.
Argentina’s record caps holder made the announcement in a presser at his current club, Estudiantes.
“I want to announce that today I am retiring from soccer professionally.
“I want to thank this club that gave me the opportunity to finish my career in Argentina,” said Mascherano.
Mascherano started his professional career in his native Argentina with River Plate in 2003 and then moved on to neighbouring Brazil with Corinthians where he spent a year, before a move to the Premier League with West Ham.
He played briefly at West Ham before a move to Liverpool – initially on loan – in a controversial move in 2006 that also saw Carlos Tevez move to Manchester United on similar grounds. After impressing manager Rafael Benitez, the Argentine was signed permanently by the Reds.
He quickly built a reputation in England and around Europe as a combative tackler, making 139 appearances in a successful three-year spell on Merseyside.
The Argentine impressed under manager Rafael Benitez with his trademark, hard-tackling style of play and made 139 appearances in a successful three-year spell for Liverpool before moving to Barcelona in a £25m deal in 2010.
He won five La Liga and Copa del Rey titles apiece, two Champions Leagues, and a pair of Club World Cup titles in his eight years at the Nou Camp before seeking pastures green to the money-spinning Chinese Super League with Hebei China Fortune.
The 36-year-old returned to play in Argentina in January with Superliga outfit Estudiantes but decided to call it quits despite being contracted to the club until June 2021
“It is time to finish my career because of things that happened to me in recent months, that on a personal level and after having thought about it for all this time, the most correct thing is to finish today,” he said at his press conference.
“I have lived my profession 100 per cent, I gave the best I could and today I find that it has been difficult for me for a while and I do not want to disrespect Estudiantes, who trusted me to return to Argentina, or my colleagues, or this profession.
“It does not have to do with the club or with a result, but with feelings that one is feeling over recent times, which make the illusion that one had of being a footballer fade.
“Post pandemic, I thought that I was going to feel the spark again, but the truth is that I could not. Out of respect for everyone, it is time to step aside and end this race. I didn’t want to let time go by.
“I am infinitely grateful to the clubs I played for, the team-mates I had throughout my career and to Estudiantes who gave me the opportunity to come and play in recent times. It was less than I expected, things happened this way and sometimes you don’t choose the end.
“I thank [coach Leandro] Desabato, the institution and my colleagues for having put up with me this last time.”
Mascherano was also an integral member of Argentina’s campaign at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, making it all the way to the final before losing to Germany.
Wish him well. He had an illustrious career.
Very well done to him.
He has tried. Very good career
Last last….I’m happy for him