Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip has officially announced his retirement from football.
The centre-back left the Reds this summer after an impressive eight-year tenure, during which he made 201 appearances and won several major honours with the club.
Matip joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Schalke 04 in 2016 and quickly established himself as a key player under manager Jurgen Klopp.
He played a pivotal role in helping the team secure a return to Champions League football and was instrumental in their victorious run in the competition in 2019, notably providing an assist for Divock Origi in the final against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.
During his time at Liverpool, Matip also contributed to the team’s success in the UEFA Super Cup and played in nine Premier League matches during the 2019-20 season, as Klopp’s side ended a 30-year wait to reclaim the title of English champions.
Unfortunately, a long-term injury cut short his 2020-21 campaign.
However, the former Cameroon international rebounded impressively, playing a crucial role in Liverpool’s quadruple bid the following season.
He recorded 43 appearances – the highest in a single campaign for the club – and featured in both finals as Liverpool lifted the Carabao Cup and the Emirates FA Cup at Wembley.
The team also finished as runners-up in the Premier League and the Champions League that season.
Matip continued to be an essential part of the squad in the 2022-23 season and at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
However, a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered last December ultimately prevented him from playing for the club again.
He bid farewell to Liverpool supporters at Anfield on the final day of last season, coinciding with the expiration of his contract, and has now confirmed the conclusion of his playing career.
Before joining Liverpool, Matip spent seven years representing Schalke at the senior level after progressing through their youth ranks, winning the German Cup with the club in 2011.
On the international stage, Matip earned 27 caps and scored once for Cameroon, representing his country in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
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