Former Real Madrid Star Pepe has brought the curtain down on his career at the age of 41. Pepe is considered as one of the greatest defenders of his generation. The longevity of his career is truly remarkable and over the decades he has won the European Championship, Champions League, La Liga, Primeira Liga, and more.
Pepe has played 10 seasons in Real Madrid, being the key defender for the club during his time. He left the Spanish capital after the 2016-17 season when he lost as a starting center to Raphael Varane.
He won three Champions League titles, three La Liga Titles, two Copas del Rey, and 2 UEFA Supercup titles for Real Madrid while helping Portugal to conquer the 2016 UEFA Euro. He posted a lengthy video on his Instagram page and captioned it “Obrigado”.
de recordes, golos e títulos Foi um , Pepe. #PartilhaAPaixão pic.twitter.com/r9ewwtHXjk
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) August 8, 2024
“I want to thank God for giving me the wisdom to be able to continue my journey. I cannot fail to thank all the presidents who believed in me and believed in me. All the employees of all the clubs I have been to, they are the soul and essence of the national team. All my teammates and coaches, who helped me grow and compete every day.”
“All the fans, who are the soul of football. To Jorge Mendes, to Gestifute, to my mother, who was essential in my journey by letting me fly towards my dream, which was to be a professional footballer. To all my friends and family, especially my wife, who was my home in my absence. My children for believing in me, for being a fundamental support in my life, for supporting me when I left home to play.”
“They were the support I needed to be able to go with a clear conscience. I would like to thank everyone, give them my thanks and a hug of gratitude. Thank you all very much.”
Pepe’s last game came from the Euro 2024 quarter-finals where Portugal faced a defeat against France and will prepare for the next stage in his career. It remains to be seen if he might return to Football as a coach or as a Pundit.
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