Italian striker Ciro Immobile hangs up his boots at 36

Ciro Immobile, the celebrated Italian striker, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 36. His decision comes after a short spell with Paris FC, which he joined in January. Immobile shared the news through an emotional video posted on the club's social media channels.

Speaking to his teammates, Immobile expressed the difficulty of the moment, stating, “It is a very hard time for me because it is the end of one of the great moments of my life. I have enjoyed this job with all my heart, but I want to be honest with myself given the current situation.” He emphasized the personal reasons behind his choice, particularly the need to dedicate more time to his family, who have supported him throughout his 17-year career.

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It is a very hard time for me because it is the end of one of the great moments of my life. I have enjoyed this job with all my heart, but I want to be honest with myself given the current situation.

Immobile concludes his career with an impressive record of 350 goals in 656 games. His most prolific period was with Lazio, where he scored 207 goals in 340 appearances, becoming the club's all-time leading scorer. He was the top scorer in Italy's Serie A four times and won the European Golden Shoe in the 2019-2020 season with 36 goals, a record he shares with Gonzalo Higuaín. Immobile also played for Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla, and Besiktas, and was part of the Italian squad that won the Euro 2021 championship. His final club, Paris FC, saw him score two goals in twelve matches before a thigh injury ended his season and, ultimately, his career.

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This is not an easy decision because they are incredible guys, a great family (...) but for me the time has come to spend time with the family. They have been following me everywhere, I have needed them for 17 years and today they need me.