Andrea Pirlo has announced he will retire from professional football when his contract at New York City FC expires at the end of the year.
The 38-year-old who will be out of contract by December 2017 believes the time is right to bring an end to his playing career as he refused to rule out joining Antonio Conte’s coaching staff at Chelsea.
The former AC Milan, Juventus and Italy star who has won six Serie A titles and two Champions Leagues at club level and played a crucial role as the national team lifted the 2006 World Cup in a successful career told La Gazzetta dello Sport hat at 38, you have to say enough.
He said:
“You realise that the time has come,”
“Every day you have physical problems, you are no longer able to train as you would like because you always have some problem.
“At my age you have to say enough. It is not as if you can keep going till you are 50. I will do something else.
My future, I don’t know yet. I will will return to Italy in December.
“An assistant to Conte? People are saying that. I have my ideas but I need time to decide.”
