Croatian Star Ivan Rakitić Announces Retirement from Football

Croatian football star Ivan Rakitić announced his retirement from professional football on Monday at the age of 37.

He brought an end to a distinguished career that spanned over two decades. Rakitić made the announcement through a video posted on his official social media accounts, in which he confirmed the end of his journey as a professional player and his readiness to begin a new chapter in football as an executive at his current club, Hajduk Split.

Rakitić, who played for several major clubs—most notably Sevilla and Barcelona—chose to end his career in his homeland as a tribute to his roots, playing his final matches with Hajduk Split. Although he had previously denied intentions to retire, the decision is now official.

Rakitić began his journey in La Liga with Sevilla in 2011, where he shone brightly and led the team to two UEFA Europa League titles (2014 and 2020). He also wore the captain’s armband and became one of the symbols of the Andalusian club.

In 2014, he moved to Barcelona in a €18 million transfer, marking a golden chapter in his career. During six seasons with the Blaugrana, he won 13 titles, including four La Liga championships, the UEFA Champions League (2015), four Copa del Rey titles, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Rakitić played 308 matches for Barcelona, scoring 36 goals and providing 40 assists. He was a key figure in the midfield alongside stars like Iniesta, Busquets, Modrić, Messi, and Neymar.

Internationally, Rakitić is regarded as one of the most prominent players of Croatia’s golden generation. 

He earned 106 international caps and played a crucial role in leading his country to the 2018 World Cup final (runners-up), third place in the 2022 edition, and a runner-up finish in the 2023 UEFA Nations League. 

His partnership with Luka Modrić was exceptional, making him one of the greatest midfielders in Croatian football history.