Belgium and former Chelsea FC winger Eden Hazard has announced his retirement from playing football at the age of 32.
“You have to know how to listen and say stop at the right time,” he posted on his Instagram. “After 16 years of a career and over 700 games played, I have decided to end my professional football career.”
Hazard, who has been a free agent since his contract was terminated in June at Real Madrid, left Chelsea, where he won two Premier League titles in 2019 for £89 million but played just 54 league games for the Spanish giants.
The Belgian had already retired from international football last December after the 2022 World Cup.
During his time at Real Madrid, Hazard won the UEFA Champions League, a Club World Cup, a European Super Cup, two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups while scoring just seven goals in 76 appearances in all competitions.
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The Belgian started his career with French club Lille, scoring 50 goals in 149 appearances and helping the club win a domestic double of Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in 2010–11.
In total, Hazard played 749 games, scored 200 goals, and won 15 trophies for both country and club.
He also scored three goals at the 2018 World Cup, when Belgium finished third.
