Alvaro Arbeloa, Spanish World Champion and European Champion, Retires

Defender Álvaro Arbeloa, a World Champion and double European Champion with the Spanish national team and winner of two Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, has announced his retirement.

"The moment to say goodbye has arrived," says 34-year-old Arbeloa in an interview published by the newspaper Marca, highlighting that "physically" he could have continued, but he is leaving "for a more mental reason," after a brief stint with West Ham this past season.

Born in Salamanca on January 17, 1983, the Spanish international was developed in the Real Madrid youth academy and made his debut with the first team on October 17, 2004, against Betis. He played for Deportivo de La Coruña (2006-07) and Liverpool under Rafa Benitez (2007-09) before returning to Real Madrid, where he stayed until 2016 and won two Copa del Rey titles, one La Liga, one Spanish Super Cup, two Champions Leagues, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.

Having been capped 56 times, the right-back has been part of the golden era of the Spanish national team, winning two European Championships (2008 and 2012) and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

After his brief spell with West Ham, in which he only played three Premier League matches and one League Cup match, Arbeloa has decided to retire.

"I always thought I would keep playing until my legs couldn't handle it anymore, but in the end, it was a matter of mentality and motivation," he assures Marca.

Famous for his controversial exchanges with Barcelona player Gerard Piqué through social media, Arbeloa does not rule out a possible return to Real Madrid. "Madrid knows that I will always be there when they need me because it is my home, the club of my life, but I will never call to ask, only to offer."