Liverpool officially announced the retirement of former defensive stalwart Joel Matip at the age of 33.
The defender left the Reds during the summer following an 8-year stint with them and has been without a club ever since.
Over eight seasons at Anfield, Matip made 201 appearances, winning six major titles with Liverpool through Klopp’s era, including the Champions League.
Although his final season was marred by an ACL injury, limiting him to only 14 appearances, he left Liverpool with a wave of heartfelt goodbyes from fans on the last matchday at Anfield.
Joel Matip has confirmed his retirement from football ⚽️The defender departed the Reds in the summer after an eight-year spell that included 201 appearances and multiple major honours with the club
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 12, 2024
Matip’s professional career began at Schalke, where he made his debut in 2009. After honing his skills in Germany, he joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2016, becoming an integral part of the team under Jürgen Klopp’s management.
He was tipped to find a new home, with West Ham reported to be in the running, but it has now been announced that Matip has retired, 15 years on from when he made his first-team debut for Schalke.
The German-born Cameroonian centre-back played a total of 500 career games, with over 450 at first-team level.
In international football, Matip made 27 appearances and scored once for Cameroon, with whom he played at the World Cup in 2010 and 2014.
“In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip,” stated former Liverpool boss Klopp, once when describing the value Matip brings to any team beyond just his consistency on the field.
Matip’s contributions on and off the field have resonated within the club, making him a beloved figure even beyond his footballing achievements.
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