Former Juventus and Roma defender Medhi Benatia has announced his retirement from football.
The 34-year-old has cemented his status as one of the greatest Moroccan players of all time and enjoyed a pretty successful during which, he played for the likes of the Bianconeri, the Giallorossi, Bayern Munich and Marseille, among other clubs.
Benatia won a total of 12 trophies throughout his career, including three Bundesliga titles and three Serie A crowns. He made 66 appearances for Morocco, scoring two goals and representing them in four AFCONs. The centre-back also captained his national team at the 2018 World Cup, their first in over two decades.
As quoted by BBC, Benatia wrote on social media: “This job has also allowed me to defend and represent my country, Morocco, with whom I have experienced unforgettable moments, the various Nations Cups but in particular the 2018 World Cup. From a young age I had only one dream, to become a professional footballer.
“To get there, I had to force myself to work hard, make sacrifices, but above all set new goals at each stage of my career. Thank God I had the good fortune to become a professional footballer but as they say in this profession, the hardest part is not to sign your first contract but to last over time.
“After more than 15 years of “good and loyal service” to football, having played in the most prestigious competitions, I have decided to end my career!”
Benatia won’t go down as a Serie A legend but he is someone who will always be held in high regard in Moroccan football.