July 07, (THEWILL) – Thiago Alcantara has announced his retirement from professional football after leaving Liverpool as a free agent. Representatives of the 33-year-old Spanish midfielder have confirmed the end of his illustrious career, which spanned 16 years at the highest level of European football.
Thiago’s journey began at Barcelona’s famed La Masia Academy, where he honed his skills before making 101 first-team appearances for the Catalan giants. His time at Barcelona yielded 10 trophies, including two La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League victory in 2011. The midfielder’s talents were further recognised on the international stage, with 46 caps for Spain and a memorable hat-trick in the 2013 European Under-21 Championship final.
Following his success in Spain, Thiago moved to Bayern Munich in 2013, where he became a cornerstone of the German club’s midfield. During his seven-year stint in Bavaria, he claimed the Bundesliga title every season and capped off his time there with a UCL triumph in 2020. This impressive run of form led to his transfer to Liverpool in September 2020.
Despite high expectations upon his arrival at Anfield, Thiago’s time with Liverpool was hampered by injuries. He managed just 51 English Premier League starts over four seasons, with his final appearance for the club coming as a brief substitute in a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in February 2024. Nevertheless, his technical ability and vision on the pitch left a lasting impression on fans and teammates alike.
Throughout his career, Thiago amassed an impressive 534 senior appearances across club and international football, contributing 50 goals and accumulating 27 major trophies. His retirement marks the end of an era for a player widely regarded as one of the most gifted midfielders of his generation.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
