Two Liverpool players walked away from the club on free transfers this summer and both have now been forced into untimely retirements.
Thiago Alcantara was plagued with issues for the final 18 months of his career and called it a day after leaving the Reds in May.
And now, five months on, Joel Matip has ended his own playing days after suffering a career-ending ACL injury last December.
Both 33, Thiago and Matip should have had several more years ahead of them as players. Unfortunately, though, the two players will not take to the field again.
Matip had been linked with a return to former club Schalke over the summer, while West Ham were also rumoured to be interested in the Cameroonian.
But perhaps keen to go out on the high of an eight-year spell at Anfield, Matip has drawn a line under things. After the news came out on Saturday, his former Liverpool centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk offered his instant reaction.
Virgil van Dijk reacts to Joel Matip retirement
It was only Friday that Matip was in the news once again. As is his nature, the former defender has been very quiet since leaving Liverpool in May.
But after Matip turned up back in Gelsenkirchen coaching a children’s football team, it led to ponderings that he may be looking to hang up his boots.
Matip took his coaching badges while still at Liverpool and it looks like having succumbed to one injury too many, the former Schalke man may now look to that side of the game.
In the meantime, all that is left of Matip’s playing career is to look back and thank him for his service to Liverpool.
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Van Dijk was extraordinarily close to Matip during their six-and-a-half years together at the club.
And after Liverpool posted a message for Matip on their official Instagram page on Saturday, it felt inevitable that the Dutchman would be in the replies.
“Congratulations on an excellent career, Joel,” wrote LFC. “All the best in your retirement.”
Van Dijk was straight in with his reaction, simply posting a love heart emoji. Ryan Babel was also spotted in the comments, the former Reds winger leaving a crown emoji comment.
Thank you Joel Matip
Matip may not have been the most glamorous member of the Liverpool squad who won it all under Jurgen Klopp, but the defender was certainly one of the best.
Had injuries not ruined several full seasons for him, Matip would surely be recognised as one of the finest centre-backs ever to play for the club. In our opinion, that’s exactly what he should be anyway.
A model of consistency when given a run in the team, Matip was also a wonderfully elegant centre-back who could slalom his way through full teams.
Although it is premature, it feels fitting that the former Cameroon international should end his career with just two teams on his CV: boyhood club Schalke and the club where he became a legend at.
So, all the best in your retirement, Joel. Thank you for eight amazing years at our club, we can’t wait to see what you do next!
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