Mario Mandzukic has ended his career as a professional football player at the age of 35. The Croatian attacker has been without a club since his departure from AC Milan and has now decided not to look for a new employer. Mandzukic has announced his decision on Instagram, where he focuses on himself as “Little Mario” with his text.
Mandzukic made a name for himself at a young age with Dinamo Zagreb, which sold him to VfL Wolfsburg in 2010 for seven million euros. Two years later, Bayern Munich paid him thirteen million euros. He won the Champions League with that club in 2013. In the summer of 2014, he moved to Atlético Madrid, before moving to Juventus a year later. He then played for Al-Duhail and AC Milan. The two-time Croatian footballer of the year, good for 89 caps, lost the 2018 World Cup final to France. After, among other things, two German and four Italian national titles, he has said it.
“Dear little Mario,” Mandzukic opens his social media post, posting a photo of his first football boots. “When you first put on these shoes, you couldn’t even imagine what you would experience in football. You will score on the highest podium and win the biggest prizes with the biggest clubs. You will proudly represent your country and make history. You will succeed because you will be surrounded by good people, teammates, trainers, supporters, family, an agent and friends who will always be there for you. You will be forever grateful to them.”
“You will succeed above all because you always give everything. In the end, that’s what you’ll be most proud of,” said Mandzukic. “You will automatically recognize the moment to stop. Football will always be a part of your life, but you will also look forward to a new chapter.” He closes with a wink: “If you ever play against England in the World Cup, get ready in the 109th minute”, referring to his winning goal in the extra time of the World Cup semi-final against England. in 2018.
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