Afimag.com –
Former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Germany midfielder, Mesut Ozil, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34 on March 22, 2023.
The former German International had won nine trophies during his club career including four FA Cups and the Spanish La Liga title in 2012.
Also in his coffers were 92 Captainship for Germany International team. Ozil was part of the squad that defeated Argentina in the 2014 World Cup finals after humiliating the host Brazil 6-1 in semi-finals to clinch the trophy.
Announcing his retirement, Ozil said his football venture was trailed with unforgettable moments and emotions, saying it was a privilege to be a professional footballer.
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Hear him: “It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. 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.”
Recall that Ozil commenced his career at Schalke and Werder Bremen before he proceeded to Real Madrid in 2010 where he won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
He joined Arsenal in 2013 for a then club record fee of £42.4m and won FA cups back-to-back in his first two seasons.
He was later named player of the season in his third season, and then won FA cup again in 2017.
Ozil became the highest-paid player in in January 2018 in the history of Arsenal after inscribing a three and half year deal on gulping about £350,000 a week before tax.
Things turn against when Unai Emery took over managerial responsibility. After Emery’s dismissal in December 2019 Ozil returned to the side under interim boss Freddie Ljungberg and kept his place under Mikel Arteta before the coronavirus pandemic forced a three-month suspension of the top flight in March 2020.
Ozil did not play for the club when football resumed in June, although he would claim a fourth FA Cup winners’ medal when the Gunners beat Chelsea in the 2020 final.
He joined Fenerbahce on a free transfer in January 2021 but had his contract revoked on mutual consent in July 2022 when he joined Istanbul Basaksehir, where he was affected by injuries that limited him to just eight appearances.
Ozil could have played for Germany or Turkey at international level but chose to play for the country of his birth.
He was named man of the match as Germany Under-21s beat England in the European U21 Championship final in June 2009, having already made his debut for the senior side aged 20 earlier that year.
Ozil was named Germany player of the year five times and was part of the side that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
