Former Arsenal, Schalek 04, and Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement from professional football.
The German international broke the news on Wednesday as he hangs up his boots at the age of 34.
He wrote on Instagram, saying it was becoming “more and more clear that it’s time to leave the big stage of football”, with injuries playing a part in his decision.
Ozil’s final game came on February 2, when he was substituted at half-time during Istanbul Basaksehir’s 1-0 defeat at Kayserispor in the Turkish Super Lig.
“After thoughtful consideration, I’m announcing my immediate retirement from professional football,” Ozil’s statement read.
“I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity.
“But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it’s become more and more clear that it’s time to leave the big stage of football.
“It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. I want to thank my clubs – Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahce, and Basaksehir – and the coaches who supported me, plus teammates who have become friends.
“Special thanks must go to my family members and my closest friends. They have been a part of my journey from day one and have given me so much love and support, through the good times and the bad.
“Thank you to all my fans who have shown me so much love no matter the circumstances and no matter which club I was representing.
“Now I’m looking forward to everything that is in front of me with my beautiful wife, Amine, and my two beautiful daughters, Eda and Ela – but you can be sure that you will hear from me from time to time on my social media channels.”
The former FIFA World Cup winner had his fair share of struggles when it comes to injuries as he had fitness problems during his 18-month spell at Fenerbahce before he joined their Turkish rivals at the start of the season.
Ozil played 37 times for Fenerbahce, scoring nine goals, but his time at the club came to a sour end when he was suspended for the final months of the 2021/22 season before having his contract terminated last summer.
It was a familiar story for Ozil, whose final months at Arsenal followed a similar pattern. After missing the end of the 2019/20 season with an injury, he was left out of the squad by manager Mikel Arteta for the first half of the following campaign before having his contract cancelled. It was an unsatisfactory conclusion to Ozil’s time with the Gunners, which spanned more than seven years and saw him feature in 254 matches while he collected four FA Cup winners’ medals.
He arrived at the London outfit through ex-manager Arsene Wenger in September 2013 after three years at Madrid, where he won La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
In addition, he also enjoyed a successful international career, earning 92 caps for Die Manschaft and started in the 1-0 win over Argentina as they lifted the 2014 World Cup.
Main Image: Mesut Ozil/Twitter
