Portugal defender Pepe has announced his retirement from football, ending one of the most highly decorated careers of recent times.
Pepe, 41, became the oldest player to appear at a European Championship finals this summer, and his last match was Portugal’s penalty shootout defeat by France in the quarter-finals.
The former Real Madrid centre-back made 141 appearances for his country – only Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho have more Portugal caps – while he also played for Porto, Besiktas and Maritimo.
An emotional Pepe thanked those who have helped him throughout his career in a 33-minute video posted online, external on Thursday.
He won Euro 2016 with Portugal and also helped to secure three Champions League and three La Liga titles during his 10-year spell in Madrid.
Pepe said: “I can’t help but thank all the presidents who bet and believed in me to be able to perform my work.
“To all the employees of all the clubs I’ve been to, who are the soul and essence of the clubs and the national team. And I want to thank everyone in the background. I want to leave a thank-you and a hug of gratitude for all of you.”
Seventy-four years into their existence, having been founded in 1950, the chance for Stade Brestois to finally make their European debut has been long-awaited.
Naturally, other clubs have tried to implement similar recruitment models, but Schafer believes Leipzig's record keeps them ahead of the curve."You will not fin
Key Takeaways Thomas Muller broke the record for most Champions League appearances on the 17th September 2024. The record, previously held by Xavi, high
Manchester United is in the midst of an aggressive revamp, but it is lacking that one central figure who can change the complexion of its attack. The Red De