Spanish striker David Villa
The Spanish forward David Villa, the top scorer of the Spanish national football team, who will turn 38 on December 3, announced on Wednesday in Kobe, Japan, that he will end his football career at the end of the season, during which he won the World Cup, the European Championship, and the Champions League.
Villa, who plays for the Japanese club Vissel Kobe, will hang up his boots at the end of the Japanese football championship.
During his 19-year successful career, Villa played for Sporting Gijon, Zaragoza, Valencia, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Melbourne City, New York City, and Vissel Kobe, and played 98 games with the Spanish national team.
"I have decided to end my professional career and retire," said Villa to the journalists in Kobe, with a voice choked with emotion.
"I have thought about it for a long time. This is the result of conversations I had with my family and the people around me. I wanted to retire from football and not let football retire me," Villa added.
"Although I will no longer be on the field, I will continue to be involved in football in other ways and continue to contribute to the world of football," he explained.
Villa, who played for New York City from 2014 to 2018, will invest in the Queensboro FC club, a new franchise based in Queens, New York, that will compete in the second division of American football.
After announcing his retirement, clubs and former teammates, especially from the national team, have reacted.
"As a friend, it's a sad day because I will miss you a lot, but I am happy to have lived your last season together. We have shared unimaginable moments. I love you, friend," Andrés Iniesta said in a message posted on his official Twitter account.
"Our Guaje is retiring. Thanks for all the good times we spent together, friend! I wish you the best for the future. Great Guaje," Iker Casillas wrote on his official Twitter, while Sergio Ramos said, "We will take off our boots, but we will never take off our memories. Great Guaje!"
Villa played in three World Cups and was a member of the Spanish team that lifted the World Cup in 2010 and won the European Championship in 2008.
Decisive in South Africa-2010
In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he scored five goals, which earned him the Silver Boot award, only surpassed by the German Thomas Muller, with the same number of goals, but fewer assists (three for Muller and one for Villa).
He scored two decisive goals against Portugal in the round of 16 and Paraguay in the quarterfinals, in Spain's respective 1-0 victories. Villa scored 59 goals for Spain, becoming the all-time leading scorer for La Roja.
The trophies he won with clubs include the Champions League, the 2011 UEFA Super Cup, and the 2011 Club World Cup, as well as two league titles in 2011 and 2013 with Barcelona.
Villa scored the third goal for Barcelona in their 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.
He won a third Spanish league title with Atletico Madrid in his only season there in 2013-14 after leaving Barcelona.
After leaving Atletico, Villa played in the Major League Soccer for the New York City team, where he scored 80 goals in 124 appearances.
In Vissel Kobe, he played alongside Spanish legend Andrés Iniesta and German striker Lukas Podolski.
Vissel Kobe is currently in tenth place in the J-League after 31 matches, the same position they finished in last year.
Villa has scored 12 goals in 26 appearances for Vissel. He is expected to play three more J-League matches, as well as the semi-finals and finals of the Emperor's Cup.
His farewell ceremony will be on December 7, the day of his last J-League match.
After 19 years as a professional, I have made the decision to leave football at the end of the season. Thanks to all the teams, coaches, and teammates who have allowed me to enjoy this dream career. And to my family for always supporting me in difficult times.
November 13, 2019