Istanbul Basaksehir midfielder Mesut Ozil has declared his retirement from football at the age of 34.
His last match was on February 2 when Istanbul Basaksehir forfeited 1-0 to Kayserispor at the Kadir Has Stadium in the Turkish Super Lig.
He was at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, succeeding the 2011/12 Laliga and the 2010/11 Copa del Rey.
Ozil won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2013/14, 2014/15, 2016/17 and 2019/20.
Ozil made the declaration on his social media handles.
The message goes thus:
“After thoughtful consideration, I’m officially retiring from international football.
“I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years, and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity.
” It’s been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. I want to thank my clubs –Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fernabache and Basaksehir –and the coaches who supported me, plus teammates who have become friends.”
Ozil scored 23 goals in 92 games for the German national team.
