
Rakitić Announces Retirement from Football
Croatian star Ivan Rakitić officially announced his retirement from football at the age of 37, at Hajduk Split where he concluded his illustrious career. His coach Gonzalo García confirmed in statements to "Nova TV" that the player has ended his professional career, adding that Rakitić was one of the main reasons for his presence at the club.
Rakitić played 39 matches with Hajduk Split, scoring two goals and providing five assists, but he was unable to lead the team to win the title that has eluded the club for 20 years.
On the international stage, Rakitić played 106 matches with the Croatian national team, achieving second place in the 2018 World Cup, and he has a strong club career, having represented Basel, Schalke, Sevilla, Barcelona, Al-Shabab, and finally Hajduk Split.
Rakitić won 17 titles in his career, including 12 titles with Barcelona, the most notable being the UEFA Champions League 2014/2015, four La Liga titles, the FIFA Club World Cup, and four Copa del Rey titles, in addition to two UEFA Europa League titles with Sevilla and the DFB-Pokal with Schalke.
Rakitić is among the foreign players with the most appearances in the history of La Liga with 438 matches, making him the second most foreign player in appearances after Antoine Griezmann.
After his retirement, Rakitić will continue in the world of football through his new role as an administrative assistant at Hajduk Split under the supervision of Goran Vučević, where his current coach described him as having good ideas and a great understanding of the game.
Rakitić played 39 matches with Hajduk Split, scoring two goals and providing five assists, but he was unable to lead the team to win the title that has eluded the club for 20 years.
On the international stage, Rakitić played 106 matches with the Croatian national team, achieving second place in the 2018 World Cup, and he has a strong club career, having represented Basel, Schalke, Sevilla, Barcelona, Al-Shabab, and finally Hajduk Split.
Rakitić won 17 titles in his career, including 12 titles with Barcelona, the most notable being the UEFA Champions League 2014/2015, four La Liga titles, the FIFA Club World Cup, and four Copa del Rey titles, in addition to two UEFA Europa League titles with Sevilla and the DFB-Pokal with Schalke.
Rakitić is among the foreign players with the most appearances in the history of La Liga with 438 matches, making him the second most foreign player in appearances after Antoine Griezmann.
After his retirement, Rakitić will continue in the world of football through his new role as an administrative assistant at Hajduk Split under the supervision of Goran Vučević, where his current coach described him as having good ideas and a great understanding of the game.