Former Liverpool Defender Joel Matip Retires from Football at 33

Joel Matip, the former Liverpool center-back, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 33. Matip joined Liverpool in 2016 from Schalke and made a significant impact during his time with the club, amassing 201 appearances and helping the Reds secure five major trophies.

One of Matip’s standout moments came in the 2019 Champions League final, where he assisted Divock Origi’s goal, sealing a 2-0 victory against Tottenham and delivering Liverpool’s sixth European Cup.

Injuries, however, affected much of his career, especially during Liverpool’s 2019-20 Premier League title-winning season, where he managed only nine appearances due to fitness issues. His final campaign at Anfield in 2023-24 was also plagued by injury, with a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury limiting his contributions.

Matip, who earned 27 caps for Cameroon, left Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season as a free agent. Despite exploring options to continue his playing career, he ultimately decided to retire from professional football.