ANDREA PIRLO HAS thanked New York City FC fans for their support after he played the last game of his career yesterday.
The 38-year-old midfielder made a late substitute appearance as NYCFC were eliminated from the MLS playoffs by the Columbus Crew.
The former AC Milan and Juventus star had already confirmed he would be bringing an end to his career when his contract ends in December, but with no games left this season for New York City, he has kicked his last ball in professional football.
A winner of six Serie A titles, two Champions League crowns and a World Cup, the Italy legend bowed out with a special message for team-mates and fans.
“Last match in MLS. As my time in NYFC comes to an end I would like to say few words,” he wrote on Twitter..
“I want to thank everybody for the kindness and support they have shown me in this incredible city.
“Thank you to the amazing supporters, thank you to the coaching staff and everybody that work behind the scene, thank you to my teammates.
“Not only my adventure in NY comes to an end but my journey as a football player as well, that is why I would like to take the opportunity to thank my family and my children for the support and love they always give me, every team that I had the honor to play for, every teammate I have been pleased to play alongside, all the people that made my career such incredible and last but not least, all the fans around the world that always showed me support.
“You will always be on my side and in my heart.”
Pirlo has already been linked with a move into coaching, with reports claiming he could head to Chelsea to become Antonio Conte’s assistant.
However, he said in October that he still has to decide on what is next.
“I’ll do something else, I’ll be back in Italy in December,” he said.
“Work with Conte? They say things, I have some ideas, but give me time to decide.”
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Congratulations Bulgaria on avoiding the drop.
@Rian O’Sullivan: game has just started mellonhead
@Rian O’Sullivan: Aged so well
@Rian O’Sullivan: your silence is deafening
@Rian O’Sullivan: you bell end
@Joe Beirne: Bulgaria will be through 100%
@anthony davoren: Easy win for Bulgaria 2nd leg
@Rian O’Sullivan: alright Jose, you’re some useless fkr
@Rian O’Sullivan: Ye sad sack o’ shyte
@Rian O’Sullivan: Congratulations to you on never being in competition with Nostradamus. Your predictions are, for some reason, designed to get attention. Well you have it now. It ain’t good attention. You look like someone that needs some help to be honest.
@Rian O’Sullivan: Rian ‘Traitor O Sullivan’
I love how Didi Hamman keeps calling Ireland “we” lol
C’MON IRELAND
@Lance Taylor: stop talking to yourself man, it’s embarrassing.
@Eoin Jackson: its ray talking to himself again
Well Well Well na sayer’s what a goal by finn now in the lead come on lad’s
@SEAN: The misery from them is unbelievable. Sean. It makes you wonder what their story is.
@Louis Jacob: And all the likes their getting unreal same with the rugby
@SEAN: yep, ten times the likes over any other post … Bots at work
All the journal guys showing up
@Chutes Idiot: Good one, enjoyed that.
@Chutes Idiot: sport fan’s ray not guys who come on once everyweek
@Lance Taylor: WGAF
@Lance Taylor: who is likeing your comment how weird
@Chutes Idiot: ya know the laws of the mind? What’s unhealed in one’s mind is projected onto another, so I’m guessing you’ve just held up a mirror for yourself with those questions
@Chutes Idiot: whos liking all your comments unreal is there bots on here now
Tod Flanders on commentary surely someone else.
@Rian o Sullivan. F*** U.
Is anyone watching” Resident Alien” on netflix? Have you noticed the remarkable similarity between the alien and Heimer?
Is it me or is there a lack in Cullen
@DonalDollery: lack of what?
@Donal O’Brien an ability to play In midfield
They are a very poor Ireland side. Probably the worst I have seen
@John Hally: 2 1 up so nope
@John Hally: we are a better team than 2/3 years ago. Admittedly a low bar
Ah well
Please take Mike’s Johnson off
@DonalDollery: yeah he’s not good enough, can sometimes make an impact from the bench. luckily when ogbene and ebosele are back he will not be near the starting lineup
@DonalDollery: thought he was doing OK
No matter how shit your team is we ll make you look good.
@Gerard Lynch: we are winning 2-1 Gerard…
@Eoin Jackson: it was 1-0 to Bulgaria when I posted that. And while it’s nice we are winning 2-1 Bulgaria are crap. And we ain’t much better. And I still stand by my comment.
@Gerard Lynch: we’re winning away from home. Try and wash the vinegar from your mouth. It isn’t 1990 anymore
@anthony davoren: why should I. I ve been following Ireland since the 70s. It’s my bleeding opinion and I m entitled to it.
@Gerard Lynch: while I agree with you this Irish team are no world beaters, far from it. I struggle to agree with the comment that we’ve made this Bulgaria team look good. At no point tonight have I thought Bulgaria have looked good. One lucky goal. Now we have been shocking for large part ourselves. But there is clearly a better side on the pitch tonight. And it’s not Bulgaria.
@Gerard Lynch: calm down jarry
@Gerard Lynch: ok boomer.
@Eoin Jackson: we were shit. Norn iron bet them 5-0.
@Joe Beirne: piss off jolene.
@Anthony Curran: ok snowflake
@Gerard Lynch: ohh what an original retort…. Who do you think we are? We are a small nation doing our best to improve our football team. You’re banging on like we should be competing with frggn Argentina!
One has made their contribution
This is the worstirish tea I’ve ever seen n
@DonalDollery: what tea you drinking? Can’t be Barrys anyway.
@Eoin Jackson: that tetleys is dirt
@Eoin Jackson: it’s not green either
@DonalDollery: try drinking it instead of watching it