Ozil announces retirement from football at age 34

This Wednesday, Mesut Ozil released a note on social networks announcing his retirement from football at the age of 34. World champion with Germany, the midfielder had been playing in Turkish football since 2021.

Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Aqr4pB5SI2

— Mesut Ozil (@M10) March 22, 2023

“After much consideration I have announced my retirement from professional football. I have had the privilege of being a footballer for almost 17 years but the last few weeks and months have made it obvious that it is time for me to step out of the picture,” wrote Ozil, who made just seven games last season for Basaksehir.

Son of Turkish parents, Ozil was born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and began his career as a football player in the youth teams of Westfalia 04. In July 2006, he made his professional debut for Schalke 04, where he would play until 2008.

Then, Ozil signed for Werder Bremen, provided 54 assists and scored 16 goals in 108 appearances, numbers that would see him called up for the 2010 World Cup by coach Joachim Low. After the World Cup dispute, the player caught the attention of José Mourinho, who signed him to the star squad of the Real Madrid.

Wearing the shirt of the Spanish team, Mesut Ozil was the leader in assists, won the title of Real Madrid and won La Liga and Supercopa de España. In all, the midfielder gave 81 goal passes and scored 27 times in 159 games. After three years, Ozil was sold to Arsenalfrom England, for 50 million euros.

Under the command of Arsene Wenger, the German was hired as a great star of the team and was part of the conquests of the fourth title of the FA Cup. In seven and a half seasons in the London team, Ozil provided 44 assists and scored 44 goals.

In the 2014 World Cup, held in Brazil, Germany was champion by beating Argentina in the final, at Maracanã. At the next World Cup, in Russia in 2018, the German team was eliminated early and Ozil announced his retirement for Germany.

From this year onwards, Ozil’s technical and physical level began to drop. Injuries prevented the player from having a streak at Arsenal and the midfielder’s numbers did not compare to the peak of his career. With the coach changes, he lost even more space in the English team and transferred to Fenerbahce, from Turkey, in January 2021.

In his heart club, Ozil played in 37 games, scored nine goals and provided three assists. However, the player was removed and had his contract terminated at the end of the following season. In 2022, the midfielder signed for Basaksehir, where he didn’t have much shine and entered the field only seven times.