Health

Matías Fernández communicated this Tuesday on social networks his retirement from professional football following 19 years of experience

The talented national midfielder Matías Fernández announced this Tuesday, through a statement on social networks, his retirement from professional football, at the age of 36.

‘Matigol’ decided to hang up his boots on Valentine’s Day and following 19 years of a successful career. Fernández shone with his own lights in Colo Colo, where he won two National Tournaments and a Chile Cup, a performance that allowed him to jump to Europe.

On the Old Continent, he defended clubs such as Villarreal, Sporting Lisboa, Fiorentina and AC Milan.

In addition, ‘Mati’ defended the La Roja shirt for many years, where he was at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and was champion of America in 2015.

“The time has come to say goodbye … They were unforgettable years, thank you Lord,” wrote the now former midfielder on social networks, where I attached a video.

In the audiovisual record, he read a farewell letter, where he states: “The day has come to say goodbye to my great passion: I only have to thank, first of all, God for giving me the gift of playing and the passion that was forged in the streets and soccer fields. The Calera”.

Then he appealed to emotion when remembering his late father and mother. “Without a doubt my father Humberto, who is with the Lord, and my mother Mirta, were the driving force behind me… To my wife Alejandra, who has been my unconditional support, making sacrifices and postponing her dreams to help me with mine, because my children,” he said.

Subsequently, the well-remembered white ’14’ recalled passages from his career and noted that “Colo Colo is my home”, while the Chilean team recalled that “together with my teammates we were able to achieve something that no one else might do before and that will stay in history books”.

“Villarreal, European dream, indelible memories. Sporting, my second home. Florentina, passion without limits. Milan, for which I always worked and persevered, became a reality, ”he added, also recalling his time at Necaxa, Junior and Deportes La Serena.

Finally, Fernández stated that “the love of the people is priceless and that is the most important thing that professional football leaves me…they were unforgettable years”.