Mario Mandzukic announced the end of his career with an emotional farewell letter to his younger self.
The striker was triple winner with FC Bayern in 2013.
Munich - Triple winner 2013 with FC Bayern München *, four times Italian champion with Juventus Turin, runner-up world champion with Croatia - Mario Mandzukic's list of sporting successes is long.
The 35-year-old ended his active career on Friday (September 3).
The striker announced this in an emotional farewell letter that he wrote to his younger self and posted on Instagram.
Mario Mandzukic ends his career: emotional farewell letter
"Dear little Mario, when you put these shoes on for the first time, you will not be able to imagine what you will experience in football," Mandzukic begins his farewell letter.
“You will score goals in the biggest stadiums and win the biggest trophies with the biggest clubs.
You will be part of the history of Croatian sport, ”is how the 35-year-old sums up his long and successful career.
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In the summer of 2012, Mandzukic moved from VfL Wolfsburg to Säbener Straße *.
The massive center forward quickly became one of the fan favorites with the German record champions thanks to his irrepressible fighting spirit.
Until 2014, he scored a total of 48 goals in 88 games during his time at Bayern *.
The Croatian helped win the Bundesliga * and the DFB-Pokal * twice in a row.
He also won both the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with FCB.
Mario Mandzukic ends his career: Triple winner with FC Bayern
The absolute highlight of his Bayern career was probably the Champions League final * 2013 and the associated win of the triple *.
Mandzukic scored the 1-0 opening goal against Borussia Dortmund in London's Wembley Stadium in the 60th minute - before Arjen Robben made the perfect victory for the German record champions shortly before the end.
With a picture of the goal celebration after his 1-0 at Wembley, Bayern also said goodbye to Mandzukic on Friday.
“The end of a great career!
Thanks for everything, Mario, ”the club announced on Twitter.
After his time at Säbener Straße, the Croatian went to Atletico Madrid in 2014.
Mandzukic was not really happy there, however, which is why he moved to Italy to Juventus Turin only a year later.
With the "old lady" he won the Serie A four times, the Italian Cup three times and failed in the 2017 Champions League final against Real Madrid.
A station in Qatar followed before Mandzukic returned to Europe for the second half of the past 2020/21 season and played for AC Milan.
Mario Mandzukic: Vice World Champion with Croatia - "You will recognize the moment when it is time"
In his native Croatia, the 35-year-old is one of the best footballers in history. For the national team Mandzukic played a total of 89 international matches and scored 33 goals. He made history at the 2018 World Cup when he was runner-up with his country and scored the decisive goal in extra time in the semi-finals against England. "PS If you play against England at the World Cup, just be ready in the 109th minute," the striker looks back on the scene with a wink in his post.
"You will recognize the moment when it is time to step back," wrote Mandzukic at the end of the farewell letter to his younger self. “Football will always be a part of your life, but you will look forward to your new chapter. Enjoy it! Your big Mario. ”
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