Report: Injuries Force Thiago Alcantara to Retire at 33 After Illustrious Career | OneFootball

Thiago Alcantara: A Glittering Career Cut Short

Persistent Injury Woes

Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has reportedly decided to retire from football at the age of 33. As reported by The ECHO, the one-time Spain international has struggled with injuries for well over a year. His last appearance for Liverpool was a mere five minutes in a 3-1 loss at Arsenal in February 2024.

The Long Road to Recovery

Thiago underwent surgery in early May of 2023, aiming to regain fitness for the pre-season period of last summer. However, he spent virtually the entire campaign sidelined. Despite his efforts to return to the pitch, the persistent injuries proved too significant an obstacle to overcome.

Photo: IMAGO

An Illustrious Career

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported that Thiago will now call time on a decorated career that saw him win over 20 major honours with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Liverpool. Among these accolades were the FA Cup and League Cup with the Reds in 2022.

Liverpool signed Thiago in September of 2020 for an initial £20m, just weeks after he had helped Bayern win the Champions League in Portugal. While the gifted former Spain international’s quality was always evident, his time at Anfield was marred by injury troubles.

Farewell to a Maestro

Across four years with the Reds, Thiago featured less than 100 times. His last start as a Liverpool player came in February of 2023, in a 3-0 defeat to Wolves at Molineux. As fans reflect on his time at Liverpool, there is a mixture of admiration for his skill and disappointment for what might have been if not for the injury woes.

Thiago’s retirement marks the end of an era for a player whose talent was often overshadowed by his battles with fitness. His decision to retire at 33 is a testament to the grueling demands of professional football and the toll it takes on even the most skilled athletes.