Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip, aged 33, has officially announced his retirement from professional football, following months of speculation about his future. This decision comes after he was linked with several clubs during the summer transfer window.
According to the German outlet Ruhr Nachrichten S04, Matip chose to retire after being released by Liverpool at the end of his contract. The Premier League club confirmed his retirement through a statement on social media.
Matip, who began his career at Schalke, suffered a major setback in December 2023 when he ruptured his cruciate ligament. The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season, preventing him from playing any further matches under Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
Having joined Liverpool in 2016, Matip’s time at the club spanned seven years, during which he became a key figure in the team’s defense. Even after his release, the experienced centre-back attracted interest from several top clubs, including Juventus, Roma, and his former team Schalke. Despite these offers and the chance to continue playing at a high level, Matip ultimately decided to step away from the game.
During his illustrious career, Matip won numerous prestigious titles with Liverpool, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup, Community Shield, and two EFL Cups. His earlier career in Germany was also highly successful, as he lifted the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup with Schalke.
While there were several opportunities for Matip to continue his career, the Cameroonian international has chosen to retire, bringing an end to a distinguished journey in football.
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