Ex-Arsenal Star Cazorla Retires From Professional Football At 41

Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has retired from playing at the age of 41.

The former Spain international won two FA Cups with the Gunners – scoring a free-kick against Hull City in 2014 – and won the Euros twice with his national side.

His career was almost ended in 2016 after he contracted gangrene following an operation.

But incredibly he recovered after 11 operations to play on, and ended his career with three years at boyhood club Oviedo.

“Now that everything is ending, when the boots are being hung up, and the noise is turning into silence, everything fits together, because the ending wasn’t just anywhere – I was at home,” said Cazorla in a video on X (via BBC Sport.

The club said they would like him to stay in any role or capacity that he chooses and “that makes him happy”.

“Cazorla decided to come back earning the minimum salary allowed by the league and donated all his image rights to the club,” said Oviedo in a statement, external.

“In return, he only asked that 10 per cent of the sales of his jersey be entirely dedicated to Real Oviedo’s youth academy, to contribute to the growth of future generations.”

Also Read: Cazorla Best Player I’ve Played With –Iwobi

Cazorla began his professional career at Villarreal in 2003 after impressing as a youngster with Oviedo, his hometown club, where he was forced to leave due to Oviedo’s poor financial situation.

He continued his development at Villarreal before a short spell at partner club, Recreativo de Huelva.

He was Recreativo Huelva’s standout player in the 2006–07 La Liga season, contributing to their top-ten finish and being awarded Spain’s Footballer of the Year.

After the 2011–12 season, coupled with Málaga’s perilous financial situation, Cazorla moved to Premier League side Arsenal for a fee of £10 million.

At Arsenal he became a core component to the team in his first year at the club, registering thirteen assists, after which he was voted Arsenal Player of the Season, as well as becoming ranked one of the best footballers in Europe.