{"id":72040,"date":"2025-07-07T14:39:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T13:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=72040"},"modified":"2025-07-07T14:39:26","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T13:39:26","slug":"ivan-rakitic-announces-retirement-barcelona-croatia-legend-hangs-up-boots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/ivan-rakitic-announces-retirement-barcelona-croatia-legend-hangs-up-boots\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivan Rakitic Announces Retirement: Barcelona and Croatia Legend Hangs Up His Boots"},"content":{"rendered":"

Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37. This brings an end to the iconic midfielder’s remarkable journey that spanned nearly two decades, multiple leagues, and countless trophies.<\/p>

The former FC Barcelona and Sevilla star confirmed his decision through a heartfelt social media post on Monday. Through the message, he reflected on the sport that had been central to his life since childhood. Rakitic wrote, “Football, you gave me more than I could ever imagine.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

He added, “You gave me victories, defeats, lessons, and friends for life. You gave me a unique path and a thousand stories to tell.”<\/em><\/strong> Rakitic was born in Switzerland to Croatian parents. He began his career at FC Basel before moving to Schalke 04 in 2007. <\/p>

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A post shared by Ivan Rakitic (@ivanrakitic)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>