Brazilian Marcelo announces his retirement as a soccer player

Brazilian left back Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior, known only as Marcelo, 36, announced his retirement as a footballer, in a video posted today on his profile on the social network Instagram. 
 
His former national team, Real Madrid and Fluminense player said: “My story as a player ends here, but I still have a lot to give to soccer”.

His retirement comes three months after he terminated his contract with Fluminense.

In total, Marcelo won five UEFA Champions League and four FIFA Club World Cups for Real Madrid, one Libertadores de América with Fluminense and one Confederations Cup for the Brazilian national team, among countless other titles.

“My love for soccer comes from my grandfather, who wanted me to be a professional player and did everything he could to make that happen. When I was 18, Real Madrid knocked on my door and I came here. I can already say that I am more than a Madrileño,” he said.

He acknowledged that in Madrid he formed a family and spent 16 seasons, with “25 titles, five national championships, one of the captains and so many magical nights at the Bernabéu. What madness! Madrid is a different club. Madridismo is an inexplicable feeling,” he said.

Playing for my country’s national team at the grassroots level was also a great honor. Two Olympic medals and a Confederation Cup remain in my memory, he recalled.

In the audiovisual presentation, he said that returning to Fluminense was to give back to the club what it gave me, helping to win three titles, including the Copa Libertadores, and leaving a legacy for the youngsters at the Marcelo Vieira stadium.