Joel Matip confirms his retirement after leaving Liverpool FC – Liverpool FC

After leaving Liverpool last summer, Joel Matip has officially thrown in the towel after 15 years as a professional at just two clubs.

The 33-year-old’s contract at Anfield expired this summer after eight years and 201 appearances, although his final season was cruelly cut short by a cruciate ligament injury.

He played just fourteen games in his final season but left with an overwhelming amount of well wishes, quickly becoming a fan favorite among Liverpool supporters.

Matip joined on a free transfer from Schalke – his only other club – in 2016 and endeared himself to his marauding runs and eccentric reactions on the pitch.

He was tipped to find a new home, with West Ham reportedly in the running, but it has now been announced that Matip has retired, 15 years after making his first-team debut for Schalke.

The German-born centre-back has made a total of 500 career appearances, with more than 450 of them at first-team level.

Matip scored a goal in every season except his last at Liverpool – he finished with 11 – and was a player who thrived on consistency when fit.

An underrated player outside the walls of Liverpool, but that was never the case within the club, as both players and fans loved to show their love for the lanky defender.

However, Jurgen Klopp said it best when he stated: “In all the years I have been involved in football, I am not sure that I have come across too many players more loved than Joel Matip.”

Matip won five trophies during his time at Liverpool, but his legacy will extend further than that.

Happy retirement, Joël!