Giorgio Chiellini, a former Juventus center back has announced his retirement from professional football.
According to reports, the Italian legend took the step on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, bringing the curtain down on a trophy-packed outstanding career at the age of 39 years.
Chiellini featured in the MLS Cup final on Saturday night, December 9, where his side, LAFC eventually lost 2-1 to Columbus Crew.
After the match, the former Juventus player took to his social media page to reveal that he would be calling it quits on professional football.
He wrote on social media alongside a video showing the highlights of his stunning career; "You have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life. You have been my everything".
"With you, I have traveled 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".
Giorgio Chiellini's career in brief
Chiellini started his career with Livorno in 2000, before he moved to Fiorentina on a loan deal.
A year later, he joined Juventus in 2005, where he won a record nine straight Serie A titles with the club from 2012 to 2020, alongside five Coppa Italia and five Supercoppa Italiana trophies, having also played two UEFA Champions League finals in 2015 and 2017.
Chiellini was named in the Serie A Team of the Year five times and was chosen the league's Defender of the Year on three successive occasions between 2008 and 2010.
Chiellini made 561 appearances for Juventus between 2004 and 2022.
He left Juve to join Major League Soccer outfit, Los Angeles FC in the summer of 2022, winning the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup in his first campaign.
Chiellini made his international debut for Italy in 2004 and was selected in the nation's teams for the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
He also represented Italy in four UEFA European Championships, two FIFA World Cups, and two FIFA Confederations Cups.
He captained the Azzurri to the UEFA Euro 2020 glory at Wembley where they defeated England on penalties in the final, and was also part of the team that reached the final of Euro 2012 and achieved a third-place finish at the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Chiellini retired from international football in 2022 with 117 caps after they lost the 2022 Finalissima to Argentina, making him Italy's joint fifth-highest appearance holder.
He also assisted Juventus in reaching two Champions League finals, in 2015, Chiellini missed the 3-1 loss by Barcelona with a calf injury, but he participated in the 2017 beating to Real Madrid.
The center-back's trophy collection also includes five Italian Cup and five Italian Super Cup victories with Juventus.
Chiellini was twice named in the Champions League Team of the Season by UEFA and five times to the Serie A Team of the Year. He was Serie A defender of the year three times.
What's next for Giorgio Chiellini?
It is safe to say that Chiellini is one of the best center-backs football has produced, therefore, It remains to be seen how the 39-year-old will be celebrated following the announcement of his retirement after a remarkable career.
However, he will return to his country where he can enjoy the time out off-field, and hopefully, he could be handed a post in the Italy national team or at Juventus.
According to reports, the Italian legend took the step on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, bringing the curtain down on a trophy-packed outstanding career at the age of 39 years.
Chiellini featured in the MLS Cup final on Saturday night, December 9, where his side, LAFC eventually lost 2-1 to Columbus Crew.
After the match, the former Juventus player took to his social media page to reveal that he would be calling it quits on professional football.
He wrote on social media alongside a video showing the highlights of his stunning career; "You have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life. You have been my everything".
"With you, I have traveled 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".
Giorgio Chiellini's career in brief
Chiellini started his career with Livorno in 2000, before he moved to Fiorentina on a loan deal.
A year later, he joined Juventus in 2005, where he won a record nine straight Serie A titles with the club from 2012 to 2020, alongside five Coppa Italia and five Supercoppa Italiana trophies, having also played two UEFA Champions League finals in 2015 and 2017.
Chiellini was named in the Serie A Team of the Year five times and was chosen the league's Defender of the Year on three successive occasions between 2008 and 2010.
Chiellini made 561 appearances for Juventus between 2004 and 2022.
He left Juve to join Major League Soccer outfit, Los Angeles FC in the summer of 2022, winning the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup in his first campaign.
Chiellini made his international debut for Italy in 2004 and was selected in the nation's teams for the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
He also represented Italy in four UEFA European Championships, two FIFA World Cups, and two FIFA Confederations Cups.
He captained the Azzurri to the UEFA Euro 2020 glory at Wembley where they defeated England on penalties in the final, and was also part of the team that reached the final of Euro 2012 and achieved a third-place finish at the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Chiellini retired from international football in 2022 with 117 caps after they lost the 2022 Finalissima to Argentina, making him Italy's joint fifth-highest appearance holder.
He also assisted Juventus in reaching two Champions League finals, in 2015, Chiellini missed the 3-1 loss by Barcelona with a calf injury, but he participated in the 2017 beating to Real Madrid.
The center-back's trophy collection also includes five Italian Cup and five Italian Super Cup victories with Juventus.
Chiellini was twice named in the Champions League Team of the Season by UEFA and five times to the Serie A Team of the Year. He was Serie A defender of the year three times.
What's next for Giorgio Chiellini?
It is safe to say that Chiellini is one of the best center-backs football has produced, therefore, It remains to be seen how the 39-year-old will be celebrated following the announcement of his retirement after a remarkable career.
However, he will return to his country where he can enjoy the time out off-field, and hopefully, he could be handed a post in the Italy national team or at Juventus.