1 year ago
22
Sam MarsdenJul 7, 2025, 08:14 AM ET
Former Barcelona and Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitić connected Monday announced his status from shot astatine the property of 37.
Rakitić had past been playing for Hadjuk Split backmost successful his homeland pursuing a little spell successful the Saudi Pro League with Al Shabab.
"Football, you gave maine much than I could ever imagine," helium wrote successful a station connected societal media confirming helium was hanging up his boots.
"You gave maine victories, defeats, lessons and friends for life. You gave maine a unsocial way and a 1000 stories to tell. You gave maine a beauteous household and moments that I volition transportation everlastingly successful my heart.
"Now it is clip to bask you from different perspective, to unrecorded you with the aforesaid passion, with a ever grateful heart, from the stands, from the offices, from home, oregon wherever beingness takes me."
Born successful Switzerland to Croatian parents, Rakitić came done astatine FC Basel earlier joining German broadside Schalke 04 successful 2007.
After 4 years helium moved to Sevilla successful 2011, wherever helium met his present wife, for the archetypal of 2 spells with the Spanish broadside which bookended six hugely palmy years astatine Barcelona.
With Barça, helium won 13 trophies, including 4 LaLiga titles, 4 Copas del Rey and 1 Champions League.
He besides enjoyed large occurrence with Croatia, making 106 appearances earlier retiring from planetary shot successful 2019, 1 twelvemonth aft reaching the World Cup last with his country, wherever they mislaid to France.
At Sevilla, meanwhile, helium won 2 UEFA Europa League titles.
"With Sevilla, I discovered a 2nd location and recovered the emotion of my life," helium said. "My girl was calved successful that metropolis and I won my archetypal large title. We cried unneurotic and celebrated with passion. Sevilla is eternal.
"Barcelona gave maine everything. It's the nine of my dreams. I achieved each my goals there, playing with the champion players successful the satellite and winning everything arsenic a team.
"With Croatia, we made history. From our archetypal crippled unneurotic successful 2007 to the 2018 World Cup Final, wherever we made millions imagination and consciousness arrogant of their roots. Sharing a dressing country with my nationalist teammates has been 1 of the top gifts of my career."
