Former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has announced his retirement from professional football.
The 42-year-old, currently playing for Como, will hang up his gloves permanently after the club`s final match of the season against Inter Milan on Friday.
Announcing the news in an interview with Movistar+ this week, Reina stated: “A very beautiful career is coming to an end, a very full life.”
“I feel very fortunate for what I’ve experienced.”
“It’s been many years… I didn’t expect it, but I think the time has come and I feel like bringing it to a close here.”
Reina elaborated on when he decided to retire.
He continued: “I decided to quit last January. I spoke with my wife, and we decided together.”
“The satisfaction is that now I want it to end. Last summer there was a moment when I had a hard time, because I couldn`t find a project that excited me and I had that little thorn in my side.”
“I had more to offer and this year has been the one that has made me see that I am now empty, in the sense that I can no longer offer more to football from this position.”
The Spanish veteran added: “I am very fortunate. It has been a privilege.”
“Perhaps you don`t appreciate it fully at the moment, but when I look back we will continue to be one of the leading teams in history [referring to Liverpool]. I have been very lucky. I`ve shared a dressing room with some great people.”
Reina began his professional playing career in 1999 with Barcelona`s C team.
He made his first team debut the following year and appeared 49 times for the Catalan giants.
The goalkeeper moved to Villarreal in 2002 and spent three years there, helping them qualify for the Champions League for the first time.
From Villarreal, he then joined Liverpool and established himself as a club legend.
Reina made 394 appearances for the Reds, keeping 177 clean sheets. He won the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Super Cup, and was a runner-up in the 2006-07 Champions League final against AC Milan.
A one-year spell at Bayern Munich followed his time on Merseyside, and after that, he joined Napoli.
He went on to play for AC Milan, Lazio, and had a loan spell with Aston Villa before making a return to Villarreal in 2022.
Last year, however, he decided to join former Spain team-mate Cesc Fabregas at Como.
This season, the goalkeeper has featured in 12 matches.
Reina also enjoyed a highly successful international career with Spain.
He was capped 36 times for La Roja and was part of the squads that won the World Cup and two European Championship titles.
After retiring from playing, Reina is expected to return to Villarreal to take up a coaching position.
The goalkeeper is reportedly set to take charge of the club`s Under-19s team.
