Lazio's Historic Goalscorer Ciro Immobile Retires at 36

Veteran Italian striker Ciro Immobile has decided to hang up his boots, announcing his retirement from professional football at the age of 36. The decision was shared via a video posted on the social media channels of his most recent club, French side Paris FC, where he had been playing since January.

"This is a very difficult moment for me because it is the end of one of the greatest moments of my life," Immobile stated in the video, addressing his teammates. "I have enjoyed this job with all my heart, but I want to be honest with myself given the current situation." He explained that while the decision was not easy due to the strong bonds formed with his teammates, the time has come to prioritize his family after 17 years of their unwavering support.

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This is a very difficult moment for me because it is the end of one of the greatest 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's career is marked by an impressive scoring record, with 350 goals in 656 matches across various clubs. He rose to prominence with Juventus in 2009 and made a significant impact in Italy's Serie A, particularly during his tenure with Lazio from 2016 to 2024. At Lazio, he became the club's all-time leading scorer, netting 207 goals in 340 appearances.

His individual accolades include the European Golden Shoe in 2020 for being the continent's top scorer in a single season. He also secured the top scorer title in Italy's Serie A four times and shares the league's record for most goals in a single season with 36, achieved in the 2019-2020 campaign. Immobile also had stints abroad with Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla, and Beşiktaş. He represented the Italian national team 57 times, scoring 17 goals, and was part of the Euro 2021 championship-winning squad. His final club experience at Paris FC was hampered by a thigh injury, resulting in a modest two goals and two assists in twelve league appearances.

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It 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.