Former Italy and Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has called time on his glittering 19-year career.
The 37-year-old won Euro 2020 as part of Roberto Mancini’s squad, scoring in the final at Wembley, and claimed eight Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia crowns and five Italian Super Cups during two spells at Juventus.
Bonucci, who also played for Inter Milan and AC Milan, finished his career at Turkish side Fenerbahce.
He confirmed his retirement on social media, saying: “As a child, I dreamed of this story I would tell, promising myself achievements to embrace against the biggest, celebrating, having faith through difficulties with courage.
“A father, a team-mate, a husband, a player. Beyond. Beyond history today, I am me.”
Bonucci played 502 times for Juventus, joining from Bari in 2010 and returning to the club in 2018 after one season at AC Milan.
A Juventus statement read: “A player who formed an enormous part of our recent history has decided to leave the world of football. Leonardo Bonucci has decided to retire from football, an announcement that touches us deeply, because Leo has his name etched into the Juventus archives.
“We said goodbye last September, but the thread that binds us cannot be broken. Not even now that Leo has decided to embark on a new chapter in his life, for which we wish him only the best.”
The sporting calendar is nearly done and dusted for 2024, so it’s time to see how much you can remember from the past 12 months
Guardiola has also been giving it a lot of thought. He has not been sleeping very well, as he has said, and has not been himself at times when talking to the me
David Coote will not appeal against the termination of his contract by referees’ body PGMOL, the PA news agency understands.Coote was sacked earlier this mont
Southampton's new manager Ivan Juric says his side are capable of "something exceptional" in their fight against relegation from the Premier League. The Saints