Liverpoolâs former defender Joel Matip who left the club in the summer has confirmed that he is retiring from professional football
The player made 201 appearances for Liverpool during his eight years on Merseyside under former manager Jurgen Klopp, who departed the club in the same season as the player.
At 33 years old, he scored 11 goals and provided 6 assists since joining Liverpool in 2016, after spending seven years at FC Schalke early in his career before moving to the English club.
Since his debut for Liverpool on August 23, 2016, in a 5-0 victory against Burton Albion in the EFL Cup, the Cameroonian defender was a key player under the German manager, starting almost every match.
Matip left the club after suffering a serious injury during a 4-3 win against Fulham at Anfield, where he left the pitch in pain and required surgery for a ruptured ACL.
During his time at Anfield, he won seven trophies, including the UEFA Champions League against Tottenham in the 2019 final. His next major achievement came in 2021 when Liverpool claimed their first Premier League title since the 1989/90 season, finishing with a club-record 99 points.
He also secured the UEFA Super Cup in 2019/20, two English Cups in 2022 and 2024, one FA Cup in 2022, and one Community Shield in 2022/23.
The announcement of his early retirement was confirmed today, as the player felt unable to maintain his previous form due to the serious injury he sustained last season.
This news has left Liverpool fans devastated, as he was a favorite since joining the club. After parting ways with Liverpool, he has remained without a club, and months later, Matip has decided to bring his long career to a close.
His partnership with Virgil van Dijk was celebrated, forming one of the top defensive duos in the world. While there were rumors of potential moves to other European teams after his time at Anfield, it seems the best decision for him is to retire due to his injury.
Below, you can see the official tweet from @FabrizioRomano confirming the player’s retirement from professional football:
