{"id":299804,"date":"2023-12-12T18:30:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T18:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=299804"},"modified":"2023-12-12T18:30:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T18:30:03","slug":"italy-legend-giorgio-chiellini-confirms-his-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/soccer\/italy-legend-giorgio-chiellini-confirms-his-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini CONFIRMS his retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"
Italian football legend Giorgio Chiellini has confirmed his retirement from playing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 39-year-old defender, who captained Italy to Euro 2020 glory and helped Juventus win a host of domestic silverware, has been playing for Los Angeles FC in MLS for the past two years.<\/p>\n
Chiellini played as LAFC lost the MLS Cup final 2-1\u00a0to Columbus Crew\u00a0on Saturday night in what will be his final match.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In an emotional video posted on his social media accounts featuring great moments from his career, Chiellini said: ‘You have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life. You have been my everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0‘With you I have travelled a unique and unforgettable path. But now it is time to start new chapters, face new challenges and write further important and exciting pages of life.’<\/p>\n
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Giorgio Chiellini has confirmed his retirement from playing football at the age of 39<\/p>\n
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The legendary defender captained Italy to Euro 2020 glory after they beat England\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Chiellini won a host of domestic honours in Italy with Juventus and helped the club reach two Champions League finals\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The defender told the story of his career through trading cards in his retirement video<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
It came after Chiellini hinted he would retire following Saturday’s game and reports in Italy\u00a0said an announcement was imminent.<\/p>\n
The video featured Chiellini looking through collector’s cards and stickers of his illustrious career.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The highlight came when he led the Azzurri to victory over England at Wembley to win the last\u00a0European Championship.<\/p>\n
In all, he played 117 times for the Italian national team, stepping down from international duty after they lost the 2022 Finalissima to Argentina.<\/p>\n
At club level, Chiellini made 561 appearances for Juventus between 2004 and 2022, playing a major part as they won nine consecutive Serie A titles between 2012 and 2020.<\/p>\n
He also helped them reach two Champions League finals – in 2015, Chiellini missed the 3-1 defeat by Barcelona with a calf injury, but he featured in the 2017 defeat to Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
The centre-back’s trophy collection also includes five Italian Cup and five Italian Super Cup successes with Juventus.<\/p>\n
Chiellini was twice named in the Champions League squad of the season by UEFA and five times in the Serie A team of the year. He was Serie A defender of the year three times.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles had triumphed in the MLS Cup final, beating Philadelphia Union on penalties after a 3-3 draw, but Chiellini didn’t get off the bench.<\/p>\n
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Chiellini gave nothing away concerning his next move but looked forward to new challenges<\/p>\n
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Chiellini holds the European Championship trophy aloft after Italy’s shoot-out win over England at Wembley two years ago<\/p>\n
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Chiellini consoles forward Carlos Vela (10) after they lost the 2023 MLS Cup in Columbus<\/p>\n
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n He could return to Juventus in a coaching or administrative capacity. His twin brother Claudio is already technical director of the club’s Next Gen department.<\/p>\n Chiellini recently told The Athletic:\u00a0‘I see Juventus in my future. I don’t know in what role, but it’s a place where I’ve spent almost half my life.’\u00a0<\/p>\n Alternatively, Chiellini could be employed by the MLS to further develop the league.<\/p>\n