Eden Hazard Announces Retirement at Age 32 Following Real Madrid Release: Former Chelsea Star Shares Emotional Farewell Message – 'I've Realized My Dream'

 

Eden Hazard Announces Retirement at Age 32 Following Real Madrid Release: Former Chelsea Star Shares Emotional Farewell Message – 'I've Realized My Dream'

Eden Hazard, the former Belgian international, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32. This decision comes after Hazard found himself without a club since his departure from Real Madrid during the summer transfer window, culminating a four-season stint with the Spanish giants that saw him make only 76 appearances.

Following his exit from Real Madrid, it became apparent that a return to top-tier football was unlikely for Hazard, who hinted at the possibility of retiring from the sport. Despite purported interest from some English clubs upon his departure from Madrid, concerns about his fitness posed a significant hurdle to securing a new contract.

In a heartfelt message shared on his Instagram page, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid star reflected on his career, stating, "You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer." Hazard expressed gratitude for the incredible experiences and relationships he forged throughout his journey, acknowledging the influence of managers, coaches, teammates, and fans.

Hazard's career saw him achieve remarkable success, winning two Premier League titles and the PFA Player of the Year award during his time at Chelsea. He also secured two La Liga titles and the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy with Real Madrid. However, his tenure in Madrid was marred by a series of injuries, sidelining him for a total of 95 games for both club and country.

This injury contrasted with his injury-free spell at Chelsea, where Hazard notched an impressive 110 goals and 92 assists in 352 appearances. Despite limited playing time at Real Madrid, Hazard still managed to claim six titles, including the Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.

During his tenure with Chelsea, Hazard added two Europa League titles, one FA Cup, and one League Cup to his list of achievements. Individually, he was recognized as the PFA Players' Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season during the 2014–15 campaign. Hazard also earned the Chelsea Player of the Year award four times, thanks to his remarkable performances on the wing.

Hazard's professional career began at Lille, where he scored 50 goals and recorded 53 assists in 194 appearances. During his time at the French club, he secured the 2010-11 Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France in the same season.

After impressing in France, Hazard secured a move to Chelsea, with the Blues splashing out £32 million for the 21-year-old sensation. His debut in the Premier League was impressive, providing an assist and winning a penalty in a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic. Hazard quickly became a key figure for Chelsea, scoring his first goal for the club just a week later in a league clash with Newcastle. However, his debut year in England had its share of controversies, including a red card for an incident involving a ball boy during Chelsea's Capital One Cup semi-final defeat to Swansea.