Euro 2020 winner Ciro Immobile retires at 36

Ciro Immobile, a member of Italy’s Euro 2020-winning team, announced his retirement at the age of 36 in a video published Friday.

In the video, Immobile addressed his teammates at French Ligue 1 club Paris FC, which he joined in January.

“It’s a very difficult moment for me because it’s the end of one of the greatest periods of my life. I loved this job with all my heart, but I want to be honest with myself about the current situation,” he explained.

“If I can no longer keep pushing when I’m in pain, when I’m training, if I can’t give my best, it’s hard,” he added.

“It’s not an easy decision because you are incredible guys, a great family… but for me it’s time to spend time with my family. They followed me everywhere, I needed them for 17 years, and today they need me.”

The prolific Immobile scored 350 goals in 656 matches for a series of clubs.

He notched 207 goals in 340 matches for Lazio, where he played from 2016 to 2024, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Immobile also played abroad, for Borussia Dortmund (2014-2016), Sevilla (2016) and Besiktas in Turkey.

He won 57 international caps and was part of the Squadra Azzurra side that were crowned European champions in a tournament delayed until 2021 by the Covid pandemic, when Italy beat England in a penalty shootout at Wembley.

After a serious thigh injury left him sidelined in Italy, Immobile joined Paris FC in February until the end of the season with an additional year as an option.

He managed just two league goals for the newly promoted club that is owned by the LVMH luxury brands family.

AFP