Former Actual Madrid and Porto defender Pepe has introduced his retirement from soccer on the age of 41.
The veteran defender left Porto earlier this summer season earlier than main Portugal at Euro 2024, incomes his 141th cap within the quarter-final defeat to France, and has now opted to name time on his profession.
In an emotional 33-minute YouTube video, Pepe mentioned: “I need to thank God for giving me the knowledge to have the ability to proceed my journey. I can not assist however thank all of the presidents who wager on me and believed in me. All the staff of all of the golf equipment I have been to, they’re the soul and essence. And of the nationwide workforce. All my teammates and coaches, who helped me develop and compete day-after-day. All of the followers, who’re the soul of soccer.
“To Jorge Mendes, to Gestifute, to my mom, who was important in my journey by letting me fly in direction of my dream, which was to be an expert footballer. To all my family and friends, particularly my spouse, who was my dwelling in my absence. My youngsters for believing in me, for being a basic assist in my life, for supporting me after I left dwelling to play. They have been the assist I wanted to have the ability to go together with a transparent conscience. I wish to thank everybody, give them a giant thanks and a giant hug of gratitude. Thanks all very a lot.”
Pepe got here by means of the academy at Maritimo earlier than making his title with Porto and incomes himself a big-money transfer to Actual Madrid in 2007. He’d spend ten years on the Santiago Bernabeu, enjoying 334 video games and successful three La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues.
“On the finish of his soccer profession, Pepe leaves us with an instance of professionalism, dedication and, above all, an infinite ardour for soccer and the Nationwide Workforce,” Portuguese Soccer Federation president Fernando Gomes mentioned in a press release.
“Pepe is an instance of extraordinary professionalism. I keep in mind properly how he participated within the Euro 2016 closing, or how he performed with a damaged arm within the match in opposition to Morocco within the World Cup in Qatar and the way he carried out, at 41 years outdated, with the identical ardour, dedication and satisfaction at EURO 2024.
“At the moment when Pepe has determined to finish his soccer profession, I can’t, as president of the FPF, fail to thank him for these 17 years serving the nationwide workforce.
“Pepe has all the time expressed his gratitude to the Nationwide Workforce and to Portugal for the chance given to him to ascertain himself as one of many best central defenders within the historical past of Portuguese, European and world soccer.”