NEW DELHI: AC Milan's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Sunday announced his retirement from football. In an unexpected announcement, Ibrahimovic, following AC Milan's 3-1 win over Verona revealed his decision to hang up his boots during an on-pitch ceremony.
Ibrahimovic's Milan contract expires at the end of June and will not be renewed following a season plagued by injuries.
"It's the moment to say goodbye to football, not just to you," said Ibrahimovic on the San Siro pitch.
"There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye."
The 41-year-old had been expected to simply bid farewell to Milan fans after his departure from the seven-time European champions was announced on Saturday.
He returned to Milan in late 2019 for a second spell after a previous two-year period in which he won the Serie A title in 2011.
1/10:Zlatan Ibrahimovic hangs up his boots at 41
AP
2/10:Zlatan Ibrahimovic
<p>AC Milan's Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said on Sunday he had decided to end his playing career at the age of 41 after a trophy-laden career at some of Europe's top clubs. </p>AFP
3/10:Remarkable career
<p>The extrovert Swede's Milan contract expires at the end of June and will not be renewed following a season plagued by injuries, prompting him to end a remarkable career. </p>AP
4/10:Successful return
<p>Ibrahimovic arrived in Milan for his second spell with the club in early 2020, having won the Scudetto with them in 2011, and helped the club win the title again last season.</p>Getty Images
5/10:Manchester United
<p>The larger-than-life striker started his career at Malmo FF in 1999 and left for Ajax Amsterdam in 2001 before embarking on a journey that has included spells at Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris St Germain, Manchester United and Milan.</p>Getty Images
6/10:Champions League regret
<p>Ibrahimovic has won countless domestic leagues and cups plus a long list of individual honours but never got his hands on Europe's elite club competition trophy the Champions League.</p>Getty Images
7/10:For Sweden
<p>Sweden's all-time top scorer with 62 goals in 121 matches, Ibrahimovic quit the national team after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign. </p>Getty Images
8/10:For Milan
<p>Ibrahimovic scored 93 goals in 163 appearances over two spells at Milan.</p>Getty Images
9/10:Injury struggles
<p>But Ibrahimovic has struggled with injuries and only made four appearances this season, after undergoing a knee operation last year.</p>Getty Images
10/10:Ibrahimovic's teammates
<p>Many of the fans at San Siro on Sunday were in tears, as were most of Ibrahimovic's teammates, who were all wearing jerseys with his name and squad number on the back. </p>Getty ImagesIbrahimovic was a key figure in Milan's resurgence to the top of Italian football after his return to the club, helping to bring them back from the doldrums and eventually win the Scudetto last season.
"The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love," said Ibrahimovic.
"You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life."
Over the course of his career Ibrahimovic won league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France, although his only major European trophy was the 2017 Europa League with Manchester United.
He has hardly featured for Stefano Pioli's side this term after being plagued with injuries, returning in February following surgery on his left knee in May.
In July he signed a deal which netted him around one million euros ($1.02 million) in fixed salary, with large bonuses linked to appearances and achievements.
But the 41-year-old only started one match and netted once for Milan this season, a 3-1 win at Udinese in March in which he became the oldest goal scorer in Serie A history.
He then picked up a calf injury in a pre-match warm up in April and ended his career sidelined before scotching rumours that he was set to move to Monza and targeting Euro 2024 with Sweden.
(With inputs from AFP)
