Simon Kjær Announces Retirement from Football at 35

Simon Kjær, the esteemed Danish defender and former captain of Denmark's national football team, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.

This decision comes after a distinguished career spanning over 15 years, during which Kjær earned 132 international caps and represented top European clubs, including AC Milan, Sevilla FC, and Fenerbahçe SK.

Kjær's contract with AC Milan concluded on June 30, 2024, leaving him as a free agent. Despite receiving offers from clubs participating in the UEFA Champions League, he chose to retire, expressing a desire to conclude his career on his own terms. In a statement to TV 2 Sport, Kjær remarked, "Now is truly the right time to close this chapter of my life."

Throughout his career, Kjær was celebrated for his leadership and defensive prowess. Notably, during the UEFA Euro 2020, he was instrumental in providing immediate assistance to his teammate Christian Eriksen during a medical emergency, an act that garnered him widespread admiration.

Reflecting on his career, Kjær expressed a particular fondness for his tenure at AC Milan, stating, "In my mind, I wanted to finish my career at Milan... I couldn’t have had a better ending." His final official appearance was on May 25, 2024, at San Siro against Salernitana, marking the end of a remarkable journey in professional football.