Eden Hazard Announces Retirement from Professional Football at 32
In a shocking announcement, Belgian football sensation Eden Hazard declared his retirement from professional football at the age of 32. The former Chelsea winger had been without a club since his release from Real Madrid at the end of the previous season. This announcement has brought an unexpected end to a career that had promised to be one for the ages but was marred by injuries and an ill-fated move to Los Blancos.
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Eden Hazard, who enjoyed a stellar career with Chelsea before his high-profile transfer to Real Madrid, made the emotional announcement, saying, “You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer.”
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The talented winger expressed his gratitude to the managers, coaches, and teammates he had the privilege to work with throughout his career. He remarked, “During my career, I was lucky to meet great managers, coaches, and teammates – thank you to everyone for these great times; I will miss you all.”
Eden Hazard also extended his thanks to the clubs he represented during his illustrious career, namely LOSC, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, as well as the RBFA for his Belgian national team selection. He didn’t forget to acknowledge the support of his family, friends, advisors, and the people who stood by him during both good and bad times.
As a Real Madrid player, Eden Hazard’s stint was marred by persistent injuries, and his statistics, with just seven goals and 12 assists in 76 appearances, were far from his usual standards. Despite this, he managed to secure some major titles, including the prestigious UEFA Champions League, a Club World Cup, a European Super Cup, two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups.
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However, it was at Chelsea that Hazard truly shone. His move to the club in 2012 for a modest fee of $39 million was a revelation. He won the Premier League twice with the club, scoring an impressive 110 goals in 352 appearances. His last appearance for Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final against Arsenal is particularly memorable, as he scored the winning goal before his move to Real Madrid.
In addition to his club career, Hazard had previously announced his retirement from international football following Belgium’s underwhelming performance at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar the previous year. His decision to step away from international duties marked the end of an era for Belgium’s golden generation, which had reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia but fell short of winning the coveted trophy.
Eden Hazard’s retirement has left the football world in reflection, pondering what might have been if not for the cruel twist of injuries and his challenging stint at Real Madrid. Nonetheless, his legacy, particularly during his time with Chelsea, remains etched in the annals of football history, and his contributions to the sport will not be forgotten.
