Former Chelsea star Eden Hazard retires from professional football
Agencies
Synopsis
Hazard, who joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 for a substantial £89 million transfer fee, had a relatively short-lived stint in Spain, playing only 54 league games for the Spanish giants. He left Real Madrid at the end of the last season, becoming a free agent when his contract was terminated in June.
By The Feed
Eden Hazard, the former Chelsea winger, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32. The Belgian football icon made the announcement after a career spanning 16 years and over 700 matches.
During his illustrious career, Hazard achieved considerable success, including winning two Premier League titles while at Stamford Bridge. However, his time in Spain with Real Madrid, despite claiming several titles, is widely viewed as disappointing, with only seven goals scored in 76 appearances across all competitions.
The former Chelsea star had already retired from international football in December of the previous year after Belgium's early exit from the 2022 World Cup during the group stage.
Hazard began his career with French club Lille, where he scored 50 goals in 149 appearances and helped the team secure a domestic double of Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in the 2010-11 season. His move to Chelsea in 2012 for a reported £32 million marked the beginning of a highly successful period, and he went on to become a club legend. Notably, Hazard was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year in the 2014-15 season.
During his time with Chelsea, he scored 110 goals in 352 appearances, including a decisive goal in the 2019 Europa League final against Arsenal in his final appearance for the club. Hazard also achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming one of only four players in Premier League history (alongside Thierry Henry, Matt Le Tissier, and Eric Cantona) to both score and assist in excess of 15 goals in a single season, accomplishing this feat with 16 goals and 15 assists during the 2018-19 campaign.
Hazard expressed his gratitude on social media, acknowledging the pivotal role played by managers, coaches, teammates, clubs, family, friends, advisors, and fans throughout his career. He closed with a promise to enjoy his time with loved ones and explore new experiences off the field.
The retirement of Eden Hazard marks the end of an era for one of Belgium's most celebrated footballers, who earned 126 caps for his national team, scored 33 goals, and captained the squad 56 times. His international career included appearances in three World Cups and two European Championships, with a notable highlight being Belgium's third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup, during which he contributed three goals, including one against England in the third-place play-off.
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Hazard, who joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 for a substantial £89 million transfer fee, had a relatively short-lived stint in Spain, playing only 54 league games for the Spanish giants. He left Real Madrid at the end of the last season, becoming a free agent when his contract was terminated in June.During his illustrious career, Hazard achieved considerable success, including winning two Premier League titles while at Stamford Bridge. However, his time in Spain with Real Madrid, despite claiming several titles, is widely viewed as disappointing, with only seven goals scored in 76 appearances across all competitions.
The former Chelsea star had already retired from international football in December of the previous year after Belgium's early exit from the 2022 World Cup during the group stage.
Hazard began his career with French club Lille, where he scored 50 goals in 149 appearances and helped the team secure a domestic double of Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in the 2010-11 season. His move to Chelsea in 2012 for a reported £32 million marked the beginning of a highly successful period, and he went on to become a club legend. Notably, Hazard was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year in the 2014-15 season.
During his time with Chelsea, he scored 110 goals in 352 appearances, including a decisive goal in the 2019 Europa League final against Arsenal in his final appearance for the club. Hazard also achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming one of only four players in Premier League history (alongside Thierry Henry, Matt Le Tissier, and Eric Cantona) to both score and assist in excess of 15 goals in a single season, accomplishing this feat with 16 goals and 15 assists during the 2018-19 campaign.
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Hazard expressed his gratitude on social media, acknowledging the pivotal role played by managers, coaches, teammates, clubs, family, friends, advisors, and fans throughout his career. He closed with a promise to enjoy his time with loved ones and explore new experiences off the field.
The retirement of Eden Hazard marks the end of an era for one of Belgium's most celebrated footballers, who earned 126 caps for his national team, scored 33 goals, and captained the squad 56 times. His international career included appearances in three World Cups and two European Championships, with a notable highlight being Belgium's third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup, during which he contributed three goals, including one against England in the third-place play-off.
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
