Former Liverpool defender Matip confirms retirement after leaving Anfield

Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip has confirmed his retirement from professional football.

Matip, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2016, has been without a club since leaving Anfield at the end of last season and has since decided to call time on his 15-year career.

The 33-year-old started out at Schalke, making 258 appearances for the Bundesliga and helping them win the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup in 2011.

Matip was one of Jurgen Klopp’s first signings at Liverpool, joining in the same window as Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Loris Karius.

He helped the Reds return to the Champions League in Klopp’s first full season in charge, making 29 Premier League appearances and keeping nine clean sheets.

However, his spell with the Reds was marred by repeated injuries, causing him to suffer 16 different problems during his eight-year spell on Merseyside.

The former Cameroon international’s last appearance for Liverpool was a 4-3 win over Fulham in December 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the same match.

Matip made 201 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and winning six major honours, including the Reds’ sixth Champions League win.

Congratulations on an excellent career, Joel

All the best with your pension pic.twitter.com/y93YeBR8do

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 12, 2024