Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has decided to retire from professional football after leaving the Anfield club at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The 33-year-old spent four seasons with the Reds after joining them from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020, but frequent injuries limited the Spaniard to just 98 appearances, only managing to play just one game last term.
Thiago has now decided to call time on his playing career after leaving Liverpool and will now look to move on to other things in football.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Thiago Alcantara has decided to retire from professional football.
Former Barça, Bayern, Liverpool and Spain player has made his decision.
Thiago’s passion and love for the game continues as he’s ready for new chapter in football after few months planning for it. pic.twitter.com/zR4Uvum1rH
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2024
The former Spain international won one FA Cup and a Community Shield with Liverpool and was part of the team that reached the final of the Champions League in 2021-22.
Thiago established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world while at Barcelona, and while he showed glimpses of his huge talents in the Reds jersey, his frequent fitness issues made him struggle for consistency.
Nevertheless, he managed to win the hearts of plenty of Liverpool fans as he never failed to give his best whenever he was on the pitch of play, and he will be forever remembered fondly by those at the club and his former teammates.
Thiago ended his career with 48 goals and 63 assists in 488 appearances having made his professional debut in 2007-08 at Barcelona B, winning four La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups, one Champions League title, one FIFA Club World Cup and one UEFA Super Cup with the Spanish club.
He moved to Bayern in the summer of 2013, winning seven Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokal (German Cups), one German Super Cup, one Champions League title and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Thiago could now look to move into coaching, and Liverpool could be ready to lend a helping hand if he wants to work with their youth teams going forward as an upcoming manager.
