Former Liverpool Defender Joël Matip Retires from Football at Age 33
Joël Matip, the former Liverpool and Cameroonian center-back, has officially retired from professional football at 33, The Guardian reported. Matip, who joined Liverpool from Schalke in 2016, made 201 appearances for the club, securing multiple titles including the 2019 Champions League and the 2020 Premier League. His time with the club ended in the 2023-24 season after an anterior cruciate ligament injury during his final game against Fulham. Before that, he had a notable performance assisting Divock Origi's goal in the 2019 Champions League final, aiding Liverpool to win their sixth European Cup.
Matip had a significant impact as part of Jürgen Klopp's early signings and developed a strong defensive partnership with Virgil van Dijk. His dribbling ability and role in defensive play earned him great affection among Liverpool fans, elevating him to a cult hero status. Klopp praised him as a "wonderful professional, footballer, and human being," noting that while Matip might not have frequently made headlines, he was highly regarded within the team. Matip concluded his career with 27 international caps after leaving Liverpool without joining another team.
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