BREAKING: Eden Hazard officially retires from professional football

Belgian football star Eden Hazard has decided to hang up his boots and retire from professional football.

The 32-year-old forward, who had been without a club since leaving Real Madrid earlier this year, made the announcement on social media, expressing his gratitude to those who supported him throughout his career.

Hazard began his remarkable journey in football with Lille and later moved to Chelsea, a transfer he famously revealed on Twitter.

During his time with Chelsea from 2012 to 2019, he became one of the standout players in the Premier League, making 352 appearances, scoring 110 goals, and providing 92 assists.

He had a trophy-laden spell at Chelsea, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League titles.

In 2019, Hazard made a high-profile move to Real Madrid, aiming to make a big impact in La Liga.

However, his time with the Spanish giants was marred by a series of injuries that prevented him from reaching his full potential.

Despite the challenges, he did manage to clinch a UEFA Champions League winners’ medal with Real Madrid in the 2021/22 season.

Taking to Instagram, Hazard shared his decision and expressed his sentiments about his career: “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. I was able to realize my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world.”

Throughout his illustrious career, Hazard had the privilege of working with great managers, coaches, and teammates.

He extended his appreciation to all of them, saying, “During my career, I was lucky to meet great managers, coaches, and teammates – thank you to everyone for these great times, I will miss you all.”

Hazard also expressed his gratitude to the clubs he represented – LOSC, Chelsea, and Real Madrid – as well as the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) for giving him the opportunity to represent his country.

He acknowledged the importance of his family, friends, advisors, and supporters during both the good and challenging times in his career.

In his farewell message, Hazard reserved a special thank you for his fans, who had followed and supported him throughout his journey.

He said, “Finally, a huge thank you to you, my fans, who have followed me for all these years and for your encouragement everywhere I have played.”

With his playing career behind him, Hazard looks forward to spending more quality time with his loved ones and exploring new experiences.

He bid farewell to the football field with the promise of seeing his fans soon in a different capacity.

Eden Hazard’s retirement marks the end of an era for Belgian and world football, as fans reflect on the dazzling skills and memorable moments he brought to the beautiful game.

His legacy as one of the most talented players of his generation will undoubtedly endure, and his contributions to the sport will be celebrated for years to come.