Former Real Madrid and Chelsea winger Eden Hazard announced his retirement from football at the age of 32 on Tuesday four months after leaving the Spanish giants.
The former Belgium international joined Real in 2019 as the club's record signing but suffered injuries and struggled to settle at the Santiago Bernabeu during a dismal four-year spell.
Despite limited playing time at Real, Hazard won several trophies, including the Champions League and two LaLiga titles.
Eden Hazard retires
"You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time"
Eden Hazard has announced he's retiring from football age 32.An icon of the game ✨ pic.twitter.com/PKSqbEcL6e
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 10, 2023
4 - Eden Hazard is one of only four players in Premier League history to score 15+ goals and provide 15+ assists in a single season:
2018-19 - Eden Hazard (16G 15A)
2002-03 - Thierry Henry (24G 20A)
1994-95 - Matt Le Tissier (19G 15A)
1992-93 - Eric Cantona (15G 16A)Special. pic.twitter.com/56hbxuMN6H
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 10, 2023
Eden Hazard: one of the greatest to play the game.
Thank you for everything, and good luck in your retirement, @hazardeden10. pic.twitter.com/deaVYteI3U— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 10, 2023
"You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer," Hazard said in a statement on Instagram.
"I was able to realize my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world. Now is the time to enjoy my loved ones and have new experiences."
View this post on Instagram
Hazard joined Chelsea from Lille in 2012 and won the Europa League in 2013 and 2019 with the London club. He also won the Premier League title in 2015 and in 2017 as well as the League Cup and the FA Cup.
He made his senior debut for Belgium in 2008 and scored 33 goals in 126 games, leading them to third place at the 2018 World Cup, before retiring from international football following their group stage exit at last year's World Cup in Qatar.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)