Javier Mascherano Announces Retirement From Football | Israel today

The 36-year-old midfielder who starred in Barcelona and the Argentina national team decided to hang up his shoes and end a 17-year career • "This is the right thing for me", he said at a press conference adding: "I lived my profession one hundred percent"

• Mascherano.

  Failed to restart in the homeland

  Photography: 

  AP

Javier Mascherano has announced his retirement from football after a glittering 17-year career across South America and Europe.

The midfielder began his professional career in 2003 in Argentina in a River Plate uniform, then played a year in Brazil with the Corinthians before making the big move to the Premier League.

Mascherano had a brief stint at West Ham then three years at Liverpool before being acquired by Barcelona, ​​where he spent the most successful period of his career.

After winning five championships and twice in the Champions League along with a host of other titles in his 8 years at the Camp Nou, he moved to China.

The 36-year-old midfielder returned to Argentina in January this year, reuniting at Estudiantes with former team-mate Juan Sebastian Veron, who is the club's chairman. Mascherano had a contract until June 2021, but he decided to hang up his shoes now.

At a press conference he announced: "It's time to end my career. Because of things that have happened to me in recent months on a personal level and after thinking about it all this time, the best thing is to finish today. I lived my profession one hundred percent, gave the best I could and today I find That it's too hard for me.

"It has nothing to do with the club or the results, but with the feelings one has been feeling lately, the illusion of being a footballer is fading. After the Corona I thought I would feel the spark again, but the truth is I can not. Out of respect for everyone, it's time to step aside and finish this race.

"I'm grateful to the clubs I played for, the team members I had throughout my career and the student students who gave me the opportunity to come and play lately. It was less than I expected, things happened that way and sometimes you don't choose in the end."