Midfielder Giorgio Chiellini announced the end of his football career on Tuesday. At the age of 39, the Italian international, the 2021 European champion, took to social media to reminisce about each tournament and where it all began, in Livorno, where he trained and made his first-team debut.
“It was the most beautiful and intense journey of my life. You have been everything to me. “I have traveled a unique and unforgettable path with you,” wrote Chiellini, who also wore the Fiorentina and Juventus shirt between 2005 and 2022. Last year, the defender represented Los Angeles FC in North America.
From the broad approach, which includes nine from the top flight and even the second division, all that is left to do is add the Champions League. For Juventus, Chiellini reached the final twice, but on both occasions he ended up losing to Barcelona and Real Madrid. In fact, the defender does not have the best memories of the finals against “our brothers”.
For Squadra Azzurra, the defender was runner-up in Europe in 2012, leaving Kiev beaten by Spain. However, the day of supreme joy came in the summer of 2021, at Wembley, when Italy beat England in the decisive match. Chiellini has been a regular presence in the main team from the 2008 European Championship onwards, having shown his strength at youth level.
Regarding the future, the Italian asserts that “it is time to start new chapters, face new challenges, and write more important and exciting pages in life.”
Therefore, we can only wait to discover the next adventures of Giorgio Chiellini, the often silent (but stubborn) master of Pisa who has taught recent generations how to lead a defensive line, the fundamental aspect of Italian tactics that reigns supreme in the annals of international football. In memory, and in truly nostalgic video games, he will always wear the Juventus zebra pattern or the Italian blue.
