Four-time Premier League champion Nani has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 38.
The former Manchester United and Portugal forward enjoyed a glittering career, amassing more than 700 appearances for club and country while racking up a glut of major trophies.
Forever associated with his compatriot and United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani forged his own path at Old Trafford.
A winger with an endless bag of tricks, the former Sporting CP forward also boasted end product.
Nani amassed nine goals and 14 Premier League assists when he was voted United’s Player of the Season as the club won their second-most recent top-flight title in 2010/11.
“The time has come to say goodbye, I have decided to finish my career as a professional player,” Nani wrote on social media on Sunday night.
“It’s been an amazing ride and I wanted to thank every single person who has helped me and supported me through the highs and lows during a career which lasted over 20 years and gave me so many unforgettable memories”.
“Time to turn a new leaf and focus on new goals and dreams. See you soon!”
Nani signed off his post with the word “Thank you” in five different languages, reflecting the itinerant conclusion to his career.
After leaving United in the summer of 2014, Nani turned out for eight different clubs in six countries over the subsequent nine years.
While his club career never returned to the heights of the domestic and continental domination which he enjoyed at United, Nani played a starring role in Portugal’s triumph at Euro 2016.
Alongside Ronaldo, the forward was his nation’s joint-top scorer as Fernando Santos’ obdurate outfit lifted Portugal’s first-ever major trophy.
Following spells at Fenerbahce, Valencia, Lazio, Orlando City, Venezia and Melbourne Victory, the 38-year-old came to the end of his one-year deal at Turkish outfit Adana Demirspor last summer.
Nani was briefly without an employer before returning to the Portuguese top flight with Estrela.
As he fought his way through the 20th season of his professional career, Nani managed to make nine league appearances and even scored in a 2-2 draw with Boavista in September.
The veteran’s final professional appearance turned out to be a 5-1 defeat to the club that first nurtured his prodigious talent, Sporting CP.
What we know
- Nani has retired from professional football
- The tricky winger won four Premier League titles with Manchester United
- Nani also helped Portugal win the nation’s first-ever major international honour.