Chelsea Cult Hero Ramires Announces Retirement From Football At 35
Former Chelsea midfielder Ramires has decided to call it quits from football at the age of 35.
Ramires is the second member of Chelsea's 2012 Champions League winning squad to announce his retirement this week after John Obi Mikel went down a similar route on Tuesday.
The former Brazil international had been without a club since leaving Palmeiras in November 2020.
Ramires started his career with Joinville and Cruzeiro in Brazil before joining Benfica in 2009 and then signing for Chelsea at the start of the 2010/2011 season.
At Stamford Bridge, Ramires won the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Europa League and scored a memorable goal against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals as Chelsea went on to win Europe's Premier club competition for the first time in 2012.
He made 251 appearances for Chelsea and scored 34 times before joining Jiangsu Suning in 2016.
Ramires also won 52 caps for Brazil, winning the 2009 Confederations Cup and competing at two FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Announcing his decision in a post on Instagram, Ramires said: "After some time of reflection, I would like to announce that I have decided to officially end my career as a professional football player.
"At this point, I can only thank God first, for he has trained and led me to the highest levels that sport can offer. Thank you very much also to all the clubs I've passed through, Palmeiras, Chelsea, Benfica, Cruzeiro, Jiangsu and Joinville. I will always carry you and your fans in my heart.
"Gratitude also to the Brazilian national team for having provided me the pleasure of playing two World Cups, which was the realisation of a dream.
"I'm thankful also to all the team-mates, staff, coaches and managers that I had the pleasure of working with.
"To my relatives, mother, children, brothers and true friends, thank you so much for being by my side unconditionally all these years, for celebrating each achievement of mine as if it were yours. You've always been my greatest strength and motivation.
"I'm going to go in other directions, but with the same happiness and courage I've had since I was a child, when, against all expectations, I left my city in the interior of Rio de Janeiro to see the world. Thanks for everything, football!"
