Former Bayern and Juve star Mandzukic retires from football

Former Bayern Munich, Juventus and Atletico Madrid forward Mario Mandzukic has announced his retirement from football at the age of 35.

The striker, a World Cup runner-up with Croatia at Russia 2018, was most recently with AC Milan across the second half of the 2020/21 season.

In a message to fans and a letter to his younger self, the 35-year-old, who won top-flight titles in four different countries, including the Champions League with Bayern, announced his retirement.

“Dear little Mario,” he wrote. “While wearing these […], your first in life, you can’t even imagine what you will achieve in football. You will score goals on the biggest stages and win the biggest trophies in the jerseys of the biggest clubs.

“In the jersey of your greatest pride, the Croatian national team, you will write some of the most important moments of Croatian sport. You will succeed because you will have a lot of people on your way to help you.”