FORMER LIVERPOOL DEFENDER Joel Matip has announced his retirement from football.
The 33-year-old left the Reds over the summer following the expiration of his contract after eight years at Anfield, where he helped the team win the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
A statement published on Liverpool’s website on Saturday read: “Everybody at LFC wishes Joel and his family the very best for the future.”
Matip was one of the first signings for then-manager Jurgen Klopp as he arrived at the club on a free transfer from Schalke and he would go on to make 201 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions.
He played a key part in Liverpool’s most recent Champions League-winning campaign, providing an assist for Divock Origi as they triumphed 2-0 over Tottenham in the 2019 final in Madrid.
The defender also played a part in claiming domestic cups with his appearances in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals in 2022.
Matip’s last game for Liverpool came last December after he was ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Born in Germany, he represented Cameroon on the international stage, making 27 appearances and featuring at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
