Home / Sports / Veteran Defender Jordi Alba to Hang Up Boots After MLS Playoff Run
Veteran Defender Jordi Alba to Hang Up Boots After MLS Playoff Run
7 Oct
Summary
- Jordi Alba to retire from professional soccer after Inter Miami's MLS playoff run
- Alba was teammates with Lionel Messi at Barcelona
- Alba helped Barcelona win 6 La Liga titles, 5 Copa del Rey trophies, and the Champions League in 2015
In a move that will mark the end of an era, veteran defender Jordi Alba has announced his retirement from professional soccer. The 36-year-old Alba, who currently plays for Inter Miami, will hang up his boots at the conclusion of his team's run in the 2023 Major League Soccer playoffs.
Alba's decision comes just three days after his former Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets, was honored with a retirement ceremony by Inter Miami. The two players, along with Luis Suárez, had all joined the MLS club following Lionel Messi's high-profile move there in June 2023.
During his illustrious career, Alba was a key part of Barcelona's success, helping the club win 6 La Liga titles, 5 Copa del Rey trophies, and the prestigious Champions League in 2015. His departure will mark the end of an era for the Catalan giants, as their longtime core of players from the Messi-led era continue to retire.
"The time has come to close a truly meaningful chapter in my life," Alba said in a social media announcement. "I do so with complete conviction, with peace and with happiness because I feel I've walked this path with every ounce of passion I had, and now it's just the right moment to open a new chapter and close the previous one with the best possible feeling."
