Former Arsenal player Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement from football after an illustrious career spanning over 14 years.
Mesut Ozil became one of the hottest talents in European football at Werder Bremen and he signed for Real Madrid after showcasing his talent at the 2010 World Cup.
He won the La Liga and Copa Del Ray in Spain for Real Madrid and he spent three years at the Santiago Bernabeu before signing for Arsenal.
The former Real Madrid man joined the Gunners for a club record fee of £42.5 million in 2013. He then went on to lift the World Cup in 2014 with Germany while he was still a player of Arsenal.
He blossomed in the Premier League with the North London side, winning four FA Cup’s during his time with Arsenal.
Ozil played for Arsenal in over 250 matches before exiting the club in January 2021 having been ostracized out of the first team by current gaffer Mikel Arteta.
Mesut Ozil time in Turkey
He spent a-year-and-a-half at Fernabache, where he found it hard to make a mark in the team before exiting the side to join Istanbul Basaksehir in the summer of 2022.
However, after making just eight appearances for Fernabache amidst injury issues, both parties mutually agreed to cut ties.
From Fernabache, the former Germany international joined another Turkish side Basaksehir where he managed to play only four league games before he announced his retirement on March 22, 2023.
Mesut Ozil retired from football after playing more than 600 matches.
The former German International revealed the information on Instagram in a statement that reads:
“Hello everyone, after thoughtful consideration, I’m announcing my immediate retirement from professional football,” Ozil wrote in an Instagram statement on Wednesday.
“I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity.
“But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it’s become more and more clear that it’s time to leave the big stage of football.
“It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. I want to thank my clubs – Schalke 04, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal FC, Fenerbahce, Basaksehir and the coaches who supported me, plus teammates who have become friends.
“Special thanks must go to my family members and my closest friends. They have been a part of my journey from day one and have given me so much love and support, through the good times and bad.
“Thank you to all my fans who have shown me so much love no matter the circumstances and no matter which club I was representing.
“Now I’m looking forward to everything that is in front of me with my beautiful wife, Amine, and my two beautiful daughters, Eda and Ela, but you can be sure that you will hear from me from time to time on my social media channels.”
